Galleries closed off at The Orkney Museum as overhaul of Viking, Picts and Iron Age displays gets underway

Work to redevelop the much loved Iron Age, Pictish and Viking galleries at The Orkney Museum will get underway next week.

This means these and adjoining rooms - the Medieval, Early Modern and 19th/20th Century galleries - will need to close to allow for careful removal of display cases and objects.

All six galleries will remain closed until work is completed in April 2025.

Siobhan Cooke-Miller is Curator of Archaeology for the Council’s Culture Service and Museums team and is leading the redevelopment.

“We know folks will miss being able to visit these galleries over the next few months, but we’re sure the wait will be worth it - and will importantly allow us to reflect the very latest  research and thinking of how people lived in these periods.

“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to implement the latest in gallery design and display technologies and has only been made possible by an extremely generous bequest.

“We’re determined to make best use of this amazing gift to deliver a first class experience of our world renowned archaeology from these periods - and can’t wait to unveil the new galleries in spring next year.”

There’s still plenty for visitors to enjoy at The Orkney Museum – from stunning artwork dotted throughout, to the historic ‘Drawing Room’ of the Baikie family, who took up resident in Tankerness House each winter, and the wider Baikie collection.

Upstairs is the ‘Ba display, and – until Christmas – the Italian Prisoners of War Crafts exhibition showcasing crafts passed to islanders by POWs, and a stunning array of Italian Chapel themed artwork by S2 (now S3) pupils from KGS.

There’s also the Neolithic and Bronze Age galleries, finds from the Tomb of the Eagles, and exhibition space on the ground floor.

This Saturday (5 October) sees the start of a joint exhibition by Graham Moffat and Peter Tait marking 50 years of friendship borne out of a love of art. Join them at 11am for a chat about their work.

Coming up later in the autumn will be an exhibition by KAOS – Kirkwall Amateur Operatic Society – who are celebrating an incredible 100 years entertaining the Orkney public, opening 2 November.

And finally, coming up is an exhibition marking the centenary of the SWRI (Scottish Women’s Rural Institute) in Scotland – further details to follow.