Public view sought on redevelopment of Shetland Museum and Archives’ galleries.

Shetland Museum and Archives has plans to update its galleries to coincide with its 20th anniversary in 2027 and is inviting the public to share their views on how the displays could be redeveloped.

Through the survey, Shape Shetland's Story, the museum seeks to ensure that the voices of the community are central to reimagining how the rich history and vibrant culture of Shetland are presented.

Tracey Hawkins, project curator at Shetland Museum and Archives explained: “It is important for us to receive public input as we begin the first phase in planning the redevelopment of the upper and lower galleries. We’re keen to hear from everyone in the community and understand what they would like to see in the spaces and ensure that their voices are reflected in the future telling of Shetland’s story.

“This is an exciting opportunity to replace some of the existing artefacts which require to be taken off long-term exhibit to help preserve them for future generations, and to bring forward little seen artefacts from storage onto permanent display.

“We have already begun a series of focus group sessions to gain a deeper understanding of what people want from the museum, and we are now broadening this out further via an online survey. We’re encouraging people to share their thoughts on our exhibits and spaces and suggest what changes they would like to see in the displays. We’re asking, what is that we do we do well? What could we do better? What’s missing from the story? All these insights will help shape the future of our exhibits and enhance the Museum experience for visitors in the future.”

How to participate? You can take part by completing the survey either in person at the Shetland Museum and Archives, or online.

The survey closes on Friday 17 January.

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