'Fair Game’ a major new online exhibition launched as part of the Between Islands project

Shetland Museum and Archives has launched a major new online exhibition today called ‘Fair Game’ as their part in the Between Islands project.

Between Islands is a major project originated by An Lanntair, the arts centre in the Western Isles of Scotland. The project, which has been running since 2014 highlights the historical cultural links between the islands of Shetland, Orkney, and the Outer Hebrides, while exploring and celebrating similarities and differences across the three island groups.

Each museum has approached the project theme creatively and used it to produce their own online exhibition which is inspired by each other’s history and collections.

The Shetland exhibition, which has been compiled by museum curator Ian Tait, examines three customs that are nowadays seen by some as ‘politically incorrect’: hunting seabirds and eggs, whaling, and harvesting peat.

Islanders were renowned for risking their lives on the cliffs to collect seabirds and their eggs. This group in Orkney used the same kind of net that Shetlanders did, and the Faroese still do.

Dr Tait said: “I am delighted to see the final instalment of this project which connects historical culture between the three islands go live. Originally it was intended to be a physical exhibition with items from each island loaned to the other. However, due to the pandemic each partnering museum has had to adapt so that the information can be shared virtually.

“The result is an online show which is presented through a fantastic new website. It explores three customs, which are now viewed rather emotively - fowling, whaling and peat cutting. We have looked at processes or traditions that are now seen as ‘non-politically correct’ and take a non-judgemental, factual approach to them, exploring how islanders traditionally used these resources, why they abandoned traditions and question what’s to stop their return in the future?

“The website looks at each of these topics in sequence and brings the material to life through a combination of archive images, maps, paintings, literature, re-enactments, audio footage and new films. One example is a film on fowling, which shows how islanders used to risk their lives to feed the family, portraying the terrifying peril of hunting seabirds and gathering their eggs in the cliffs of Shetland, Orkney and Hebrides.”

Peats weren’t just used to heat the home, and for cooking. Islanders used them in many ways, even in industry. Dried kelp was burnt in peat-fired kilns to produce a material used in glass manufacture.

Museum nan Eilean in the Hebrides focuses on unexpected aspects of island culture in their ‘Tales of the Unexpected’ exhibition, highlighting some misconceptions about life on the island groups, looking at designers, living traditions, and industry; Shetland content includes mining, poultry farming, and guising. Orkney Museum’s ‘Orkney: Between Islands’ explores the inspiration and legacy of the islands in arts, crafts and literature, which includes a detailed look at Shetland carpentry, Fair Isle knitting, and the work of author/photographer Jack Peterson.

People in the Western and Northern Isles all ate whale meat. However, they abandoned the centuries-old practice, and although folk still used the blubber and bones for a century longer, this ceased too. A stranded whale is beach litter in Britain’s islands, unlike in Faro

Alex MacDonald, co-ordinator of the Between Islands Project said: “What has been achieved by the museum teams under such difficult circumstances last year is exceptional. Placing these displays online also opens them up to a wider audience, and in keeping with the spirit of the project, is an illustration of what we can achieve when working together between islands.”

  • The Shetland exhibition can be viewed here
  • The complete Between Islands project can be viewed here

The overall project will be complemented by a new publication called ‘Between Islands’ which features articles by the organisers of all the islands’ online exhibitions. The volume has two pieces by Dr Tait, covering the Fair Game show, and another on preconceptions of island culture. It will be available to buy from the musum shop and online shortly.

The most familiar image of the bygone islander is someone carrying a basket of peat on their back. The creels used in the Hebrides were most robust, made from willow, and this child’s one has lovely woven arm-straps. Photo by John Maclean.

This final part of the Between Islands project has been undertaken through the development of specific projects encouraging inter-island collaboration and, with financial assistance through the Shetland, Orkney and the Outer Hebrides LEADER 2014-2020 regional cooperation scheme, a series of larger scale initiatives during 2019 and 2020.

Shetland Museum and Archives is currently closed to the public due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Please follow our social media pages for any updates and all the latest museum news and blogs.

Related Posts

Research project commissioned to encourage locals to grow more aets!

Shetland Amenity Trust has commissioned a research project with two local straw makers to understand more about the growing of ...

Read more

‘Logical Confusion’, a retrospective exhibition of Mike McDonnell opens at the Shetland Museum

An ambitious new exhibition dedicated to the artistry of well-known local artist Mike McDonnell opened this weekend at the Shetland ...

Read more

New poetry book - ‘Love in Human Herts’

‘Love in Human Herts’, a new publication celebrating Vagaland’s finest poetry has been launched today by the Shetland Amenity ...

Read more

The funny story behind some of Lerwick's street names

In the 1880s Lerwick was changing rapidly. As the great herring fishery of that era developed, there were new streets, and potential ...

Read more

Film celebrating the achievements of Johnnie Notions launched by Shetland Museum and Archives

A new film which brings to life the incredible story of 18th century inoculation pioneer and Shetland crofter Johnnie Notions has been ...

Read more

Keep a look out for Skeklers this Halloween

We had a great time at our recent Skeklers Hat workshop with local artist Eve Eunson in preparation for Halloween.

Read more

Pre-school Activity Mornings

Bring your little explorers to the Shetland Museum & Archives for our heritage-filled fun sessions, designed especially for under 5's ...

Read more

National Poetry Day

To celebrate National Poetry Day we asked assistant archivist (and poet) Mark Smith to uncover a hidden gem from the archives. This ...

Read more

October Holiday Workshops

Join us this October Holidays for heritage inspired workshops and some spooky Halloween fun! From witchcraft to skeklers and faas ...

Read more

Treasure Trove Comes to Shetland

Members of the public are invited to come along with their ‘treasures’ and meet experts from Scotland’s Treasure Trove Unit ...

Read more

Bold exhibition featuring photography by legendary Diane Arbus opens at Shetland Museum and Archives

A new display of powerful and iconic photographs by Diane Arbus, one of the most influential photographers of the 20th century, opened ...

Read more

Shetland Museum and Archives Launches New Online Archive Catalogue

A new online Archives catalogue has been launched today (Tuesday 8 August) at the Shetland Museum and Archives.

Read more

CLOSED: Friday 12 noon - Sunday 12 noon

Shetland Museum and Archives will be closed from 12 noon on Friday 21 July until 12 noon on Sunday 23 July, due to a private ...

Read more

A celebration of Shetland’s maritime heritage at the museum

Shetland’s maritime heritage will be at the heart of Shetland Museum and Archives’ summer programme, with a series of themed ...

Read more

Preparing for the herring – photos from the archives

George Gen and Sarah Mackintosh, members of our Visitor Experience team have pulled together a selection of photos from our online ...

Read more