Wick museum working towards of April reopening date as two-day book sale begins
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Wick Heritage Museum is working towards a reopening date of April 1 next year – after having to remain closed for the whole 2020 season because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The museum in Bank Row, run by the Wick Society, is normally open to the public from April to October. During July, August and September last year the number of visitors exceeded 1000 each month.
In the meantime, some of the group’s volunteers are looking to generate funds this week by hosting a book sale in the town’s Norseman Hotel.
The society suffered a setback recently when its bid for recovery funding of around £13,000 from Museums Galleries Scotland, the national development body for the Scottish museums sector, was turned down.
Chairman Ian Leith said the Wick Society board would continue to seek funding from other sources and would remain very much focused on reopening as planned at the start of April.
“We felt it was an important application because it was looking to purchase materials and resources that would help the museum to reopen in Covid times, because we don’t know what it’s going to be like on April 1,” he said.
“There were obvious things like protection screens but also we were looking to put in an online and credit-card payment system to cut down the use of cash.
“Museums Galleries Scotland said that the demand greatly outstripped the supply. It is a setback but we have a resilient group of volunteers that will overcome it.
“We are continuing to work towards opening on April 1. That’s our aim and that is what we’re focused on. We are continuing to seek funds to help us with that.
“One of the offshoots of that is the book sale – it’s a means of trying to generate some income.”
The sale takes place at the Norseman Hotel on Friday and Saturday (December 4 and 5), from 10am to 4pm both days. It is a follow-on to a series of four sales held at the town's old herring mart each Saturday in August which raised around £2000.
Again there will be a mix of Caithness photo books published over the years by North of Scotland Newspapers along with the society's collection of recipes, Traditional Treats, and other local publications as well as some merchandise. Mr Leith said the books and other items would make ideal festive gifts at “knock-down prices”.
He praised hotel owner Andrew Mackay for readily agreeing to provide the venue.
“We would want to recognise the hotel’s co-operation in this,” Mr Leith said.
The Wick Society is also participating in the Inspired by Caithness virtual market being run by local artist Lisa Poulsen this Saturday.
