Oral History of St Peter’s and St Mary’s Kirk

Part one of the project

We hired Sheena Graham George as our researcher. She interviewed and recorded the transcripts from 16 local - people 8 from each Kirk.

Orkney Voices and Wirdsmit new writing projects:

Across the year these projects delivered: 8 performances, 26 participants & c250 attendances. 3 public events, 22 participants, c300 attendances. 24 training sessions, c27 participants. 2 new book titles, c400 sales, c55backlist sales. c1,500 unique visits to website.

Mini Festival

6 performances, 20 participants, 240 attendances. Exhibitions 1. 5 participants, 40 attendances. Public Events 9, 43 participants, 37 attendances. Outreach 24 sessions to 343 5-17yrs and 42 adults.

The Orkney Japan Mini Festival, was planned as an immersion in Japanese culture and had two anchor events: 1000 Cranes project and Taiko drumming and included the following:

Join the Hoy community as they take you on a circular trip around the parish. Over thirty voices, some archive recordings and many new, will accompany you as you hear about Hoy, its people and places. Explore the archaeology, folklore, flora and fauna of the area in this immersive tour of a remarkable island parish.

View all the details on their website at hoyheritage.wordpress.com/tales-o-hoy

Again this year Orkney took part in the Doors Open Days. Scotland’s biggest free festival of architecture presented its largest ever digital offering in September, as we celebrated Scotland’s buildings and stories online, through tours, lectures, DIY learning events and more. In response to current concerns surrounding COVID-19 Doors Open Days 2020 was digital so that people across Scotland and the world can continue to safely explore Scotland’s buildings, spaces and places. This year we had 17 participants which is the largest number of Doors Open participants from Orkney.