Our Own Shows
Some of our past exhibitions have been curated by Shetland Museum and Archives staff, or have been on loan for special display from national or international institutions.
We are proud to have a facility capable of exhibiting high profile, exiting shows which gives people in Shetland the opportunity to see, firsthand, iconic artefacts and items which, although may not be specific to Shetland's heritage, are nonetheless very important - and popular. Exhibitions on local subjects curated by our staff are also very popular and well visited. Examples of these are below.
View Full Size40 Years of Art at Shetland Museum
View Full SizeArmada Cannon
View Full SizeFocus display of merchant bottles
View Full SizeFrom Old Rock to New Life - Emigration Show
View Full SizeThe Lewis Chessmen
View Full SizeHigh Seas and High Teas - an exhibition of tea trading
View Full SizeSkaill Hoard
View Full SizeTaatit Rugs
View Full SizeTriceratops skull from the Hunterian Museum
View Full SizeWriting the North partnership exhibition
Gunnister Man, in partnership with National Museums Scotland. September 2009.
Gayer-Anderson Cat, loaned from The British Museum. September 2012.
Skaill Hoard exhibition, in partnership with National Museums Scotland. July 2013.
Gentle Giant, dinosaur exhibition in parternship with The Hunterian Museum,University of Glasgow. September 2013.
Writing the North exhibition, in partnership with the Arts & Humanities Research Council, University of Edunburgh and Orkney Library. March 2014.
Blockade: 1914-1918. Self -curated exhibition on Shetlanders during WW1. August 2014.
Don McCullin Exhibition, in partnership with Shetland Arts, Artists Rooms, Tate and National Galleries Scotland. November 2014.
James Robertson map exhibition, in partnership with the National Library of Scotland. September 2015.
Logical Confusion – a retrospective exhibition of the artistry of Mike McDonnell
Da Gadderie, Shetland Museum and Archives
A themed exhibition of Mike McDonnell's work which shows the diversity of his work as an artist, community artist, informal educator and creative initiator.
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Harriet's Portrait
Upper Gallery, Shetland Museum
As part of the BBC's 'Extraordinary Portraits', UK artist Stuart Pearson Wright was commissioned to paint a portrait of Harriet Middleton in recognition of her incredible fundraising efforts for the Shetland MRI Scanner appeal.
ViewLooking in From the Edge
Archives Stairwell, Shetland Museum & Archives
An exhibition about late medieval and early modern international trade on the North Atlantic islands showing the economic and cultural connections of merchants from Northern German cities, such as Bremen and Hamburg with the North Atlantic islands of Iceland, Shetland, and Faroe during the 15th to 17th centuries.
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The Norwind : A Model Schooner with Fine Lace Sails
Entrance Foyer, Shetland Museum & Archives
The Norwind, a restored model schooner with elegant Shetland Fine Lace Sails, will be on display in the Museum's entrance foyer until the end of October 2023.
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To the End of the Days of Sail
Upper Foyer, Shetland Museum
An exhibition about tall ships and the Shetland sailing era, showing a selection of notable Shetland sailing masters and their vessels from the 1840s to the 1920s, from the pioneering “Matchless” and “Great Britain” of the 1840s to the “Kilmallie”, perhaps the last commercial sailing vessel to be commanded by a Shetlander.
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Display case: Vaila Mae and Arctic Mist
Upstairs Display Case, outside café entrance
We are delighted to present a model of the sixareen Vaila Mae, made by Robbie Tait in 2021, on display alongside a model of the ‘Maid’ class Arctic Mist built by John Tait (Robbie’s son) in 2017. It is lovely to view them together and to see the traditional skill passed down through the generations.
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Peerie Boats: The Diversity and Craftmanship of Model Ships
Briggiestanes, Shetland Museum & Archives
Shetland Museum has a vast collection of ship models ranging in size and quality of construction, but most have been created by Shetlanders and many reflect their experience of ships and shipping, fishing, and trade. This display is a small selection of these models, demonstrating the breadth and diversity of the ship and boat models contained within the collection, and the skill of those who made them.
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Ship Ahoy!
Stairwells and Upper Archives Foyer, Shetland Museum
Tall Ships inspired artwork by primary and secondary pupils from Shetland schools.
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On Top of the World
Upper Gallery, Shetland Museum
In 1953, Edmund Hillary and Tanzing Norgay became the first humans to summit Mount Everest. Their climbing equipment included knitted jumpers made in Shetland.
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Coronations over the years
Upper Galleries
To commemorate the Royal Coronation our curators have been working on a fascinating new display that shows objects that were worn or gifted to Shetlanders for various coronations over the years.
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