Consultant sought for museum project

The Council is seeking to appoint a suitably qualified and experienced consultant to assess the impact of a major redevelopment of the Scapa Flow Museum at Lyness in Hoy.

The project involves the restoration of historic buildings at the museum, the enhancement of interpretation and displays, and the creation of a new building which will house an exhibition space, café, toilet facilities and information areas.

The Heritage Lottery Fund is providing up to £1.155 million for the project, with additional funding from Historic Environment Scotland, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, the Orkney LEADER 2014-2020 programme, Museums Galleries Scotland and the Council itself.

OIC Head of Education Peter Diamond said: “The renovated museum and visitor centre will be a tremendous asset for Lyness, Hoy and Orkney as a whole.

“As well as being a valuable resource for visitors to our islands, it will help preserve artefacts for current and future generations that tell the remarkable story of Scapa Flow’s role as major naval base through the two world wars.

“It is important that a project of this scale, which has attracted significant funding from a range of organisations, is fully evaluated.

We are seeking a consultant who can provide an expert view of how the project is delivered - and the impact it has once the museum reopens.”

Full details are available here.

The Scapa Flow Museum is set to reopen in March 2020.

Meanwhile, a temporary exhibition on the wartime history of Scapa Flow is on show at the Hoy Hotel in Lyness.

It features touch screen computers giving a 360-degree tour of the main museum buildings and site, showcases stories and highlights some of the latest research into Scapa Flow and its history. The exhibition has been part-funded by the Island of Hoy Development Trust.