High praise for five-star museum

Since the building opened in 2007 the service has consistently received the highest visitor attraction award, with special mention in the reports regarding the quality of displays and customer experience.

This year the assessor had particular praise for the excellent facilities for children, and the Gayer-Anderson cat currently on display in the foyer area as a result of the successful partnership with the British Museum. To date, school visits have resulted in 530 children from 10 schools having the opportunity to study this iconic artefact.

Visit Scotland found the museum was an active cultural hub for Shetland, well used by all sectors of the community.  Over 400 people visited the building last weekend for the Shetland Schools Art and Design exhibition, and an introduction to the archives session.

The regular events and activities, along with interactive displays and changing exhibitions, contribute to making it Shetland’s number one visitor attraction, which is again on course to welcome over 83,000 visitors this year.  

Shetland Amenity Trust deputy manager Alan Blain said: “We are committed to providing the best possible museum and archives service to the Shetland community, and visitors to our islands.

“That Visit Scotland have reaffirmed the five-star status of the service is a real testament to the ongoing dedication and passion of the staff, who provide an excellent visitor service every day.”