Accredited Heritage Partners
Museums and Heritage Partners
We are fortunate to be surrounded by organisations sharing Orkney’s deep and rich history, please find the link to some of them. We work with, help and support these organisations in different ways; be it providing advice in regard to collections or displays; or even working on joint exhibitions. This is done with the common goal of promoting heritage within and out of the county.
Stromness Museum
Stromness Museum is an independent museum based in Stromness, Orkney. We host special exhibitions and have a range of permanent galleries, welcoming visitors throughout the year. You can also browse our collections online at www.stromnessmuseum.org.uk
The museum was instituted in 1837 by the Orkney Natural History Society and the building retains it character as a traditional Victorian museum. Over the years the museum has amassed unique and fascinating collections telling the story of Orcadians at home and abroad along with Orkney’s Natural and Maritime History.
Pier Arts Centre
The Pier Arts Centre, in Stromness, was founded in 1979 to provide a home for an exceptional collection of British fine art donated to the people of Orkney by the author, peace activist and philanthropist Margaret Gardiner (1904-2005).
Margaret Gardiner’s original collection, comprising 67 pieces, includes works by major 20th Century artists Barbara Hepworth, Ben Nicholson and Alfred Wallis, amongst others, as well as local artists such as Sylvia Wishart and Stanley Cursiter.
The outstanding collection has grown steadily since 1979 and now comprises over 200 works including contemporary additions by artists such as Jim Lambie, Edmund de Waal and Katy Dove, as well as works by Orcadian artists Margaret Tait, Steven MacIver and Brandon Logan.
As well as the Permanent collection, the Centre also curates a year round programme of changing exhibitions and events for the education and enjoyment of the general public.
The Pier Arts Centre is open Tuesday-Saturday all year. Visit www.pierartscentre.com for details. Admission is free.
Westray Heritage Centre
Westray Heritage Centre, in the middle of Pierowall village, has full Museum Accreditation and 4 Star Visitor Attraction status. Run by volunteers from the charity Westray Heritage Trust, its focus is on preserving and making available information on the history and heritage of the island of Westray for public viewing and research.
Exhibits in the two large halls include a comprehensive collection of Westray fossils, the Neolithic carvings Westray Stone and Westray Wife, a Viking comb, an 1800s graffiti wall of drawings and carvings of Westray sailing ships, artefacts from previous local ferries, artistic illustrations of local ecology, and displays of current local industry and events. A large wall time line depicts past important events in the history of Westray.
The archive room houses over 8000 photographs, archive documents, books and databases for research and there is a media room for local audiovisual material.
Please check westrayheritage.co.uk for opening times.
