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Wick and Castletown museums are set for June reopening





Castletown Heritage Society (pictured here in summer 2019) will shortly resume regular exhibitions, displays and workshops at Castlehill Heritage Centre throughout the year. Picture: Neil Buchan / Castletown Heritage Society
Castletown Heritage Society (pictured here in summer 2019) will shortly resume regular exhibitions, displays and workshops at Castlehill Heritage Centre throughout the year. Picture: Neil Buchan / Castletown Heritage Society

Museums in Wick and Castletown are on course to reopen in June following the easing of Covid-19 restrictions on visitor attractions.

Wick Heritage Museum and Castlehill Heritage Centre are among many venues across the Highlands and Islands being promoted in a new campaign called MYseum.

They will be offering discounts or free entry for a limited period to people who live locally.

MYseum is designed to encourage residents in each area to "rediscover the history and heritage on their doorstep" and "re-engage with their local museums", many of which have remained closed for the past year.

Local museums, which are run primarily by volunteers, have been hit hard during the pandemic as they rely heavily on income from visitors.

However, with support from XpoNorth Heritage as well as Museums and Heritage Highland, many have worked during lockdown to produce online content to stay connected to the public.

Wick Heritage Museum is working towards opening its doors again on June 4. A one-way system is being developed to ensure the safety of volunteers and visitors, along with other measures to comply with Scottish Government requirements and guidelines.

The schoolroom display at Wick Heritage Museum in the town's Bank Row. The museum will open again in early June. Picture: Fergus Mather
The schoolroom display at Wick Heritage Museum in the town's Bank Row. The museum will open again in early June. Picture: Fergus Mather

Ian Leith, chairman of the Wick Society, which operates the museum in the town's Bank Row, said: "Initially, the museum will open two days per week – Fridays and Saturdays, from 10am to 5pm – and, as a thank-you for the ongoing support we receive from the local community, we will make it free entry for local people for the first two weeks. Donations are, of course, always welcome.

"Remember you can always enjoy aspects of our heritage online through our website, Wick Voices and the Johnston photographic collection."

Castletown Heritage Society is working towards welcoming visitors back to Castlehill Heritage Centre by mid-June.

Heritage society chairman Neil Buchan said: "The safety of our volunteers and visitors is our top priority, so an adapted physical layout with a one-way system and other precautions will be in place to ensure full compliance with Scottish Government requirements and guidelines.

"Opening will initially be restricted to one day a week – watch our website for details of opening days and times. Entry to the centre will be free, as always. However, donations are always welcome."

Mr Buchan added: "We have created a number of heritage-related audio podcasts and videos, all of which are accessible via our website."

Timespan in Helmsdale will open on May 17, with free entry to locals and members. Capacity at the museum and café has been reduced to ensure social distancing.

Others involved in the MYseum campaign are Glencoe Folk Museum, Museum of the Isles (Armadale, Skye), Gairloch Museum, Ullapool Museum, Brora Heritage Centre, Historylinks (Dornoch), Tain Museum, Tarbat Discovery Centre, Highland Museum of Childhood, Dingwall Museum, Cromarty Courthouse Museum, Groam House Museum (Rosemarkie), Inverness Museum and Art Gallery, Nairn Museum, Grantown Museum and Highland Folk Museum.

Nicola Henderson, heritage sector specialist at XpoNorth, said: "The independent museum sector has been hard hit during the pandemic with some museums not being open since the end of 2019.

"However, with support from organisations such as XpoNorth and Museums and Heritage Highland, all have been very agile in finding new ways to engage online and through collaborating with each other on activities such as the beautiful Highland Threads exhibition, showcasing 14 costumes from across the region through video and photography, and the Highland Objects podcast series.

"Now they are ready to welcome back visitors and they want to start with their local communities. Staff, volunteers and visitors will all be nervous as we adjust to visiting venues again so their invitation to the community is to say 'thank you and welcome back', allowing them to engage with their exhibitions and new objects on display first and to help build confidence for all in this new world."

For more information on the museums, visit https://museumsandheritagehighland.org.uk

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