2026 Exhibition Programme
Salt to Plate by Debasis Biswas
Strathnaver Museum Annex
20th June to 31st October | 10am to 5pm, Mon to Sat
Join us as we explore the heritage and conservation of salmon fisheries along the north coast of Scotland and beyond with local wildlife artist and documentary filmmaker Debasis Biswas. DB’s fascinating co-curated exhibition incorporates paintings, sculptural pieces and a documentary film.
The story of the salmon fisheries is a human story of industry and resilience and DB has gathered a wealth of colourful and rich stories from those who worked these shores as part of what was once a thriving industry. DB’s engaging documentary incorporates these stories as he visits the buildings associated with the industry in the company of those who worked there.
DB also explores the global story of the wild Atlantic salmon through art and science. The students at Farr High School led by High Life Highland Ranger Paul Castle explored the impact of micro plastics and marine litter on our environment during a litter pick. The students creative responses can be seen as part of the exhibition through sculptural pieces created by the waste gathered during their litter pick.
Salt to Plate was developed as part of Strathnaver Museum’s 2024 Artist Residency Programme part funded by Museums Galleries Scotland, The William Syson Foundation, the Children’s and Young People’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund, and which received £5,755 from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Species on the Edge
Strathnaver Museum & Annex
17th to 26th November | 10am to 2pm, Tue to Thu
Species on the Edge celebrates the end of its four-year programme of conservation with an exhibition inspired by the people, flora, and fauna of the north coast.
Creative practices have been valuable for Species on the Edge in opening up conversations about conservation. The exhibition brings together the work of artists and community groups who have contributed to the project in different ways, in different places and at different times.
It features work by stained glass artist Marta Sienkiewicz, comic illustrator Aimee Lockwood, watercolour painter Iris Hill, filmmakers Laura O’Kane and Sinéad Hargan, the Sutherland Stitchers, and an herbarium produced by Tongue Gardening Group supported by Joanne B Kaar.
People will be inspired by this co-curated collection, understanding conservation action not just as surveying or habitat management, but as a process of creating joy and hope.
Species on the Edge is a collaboration of eight conservation organisations, working with communities across Scotland’s coasts and islands to save our rarest and most vulnerable species from extinction. Funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Species on the Edge works hand-in-hand with communities and landowners across Scotland to bring together expertise and resources from across the conservation sector to tackle biodiversity loss.
2027 Exhibitions
Forgotten Fleece Tales
Strathnaver Museum Annex
1st June to 31st August 2027 | 10am to 5pm, Mon to Sat
Forgotten Fleece Tales is a celebration of the space where art, craft, story and ecology come together. The exhibition features a curated collection of works made using “waste” or “unwanted” organic Scottish fleece, and byproducts of industrial fleece processing.
With a combination of wearables, wall hangings, home textiles, sculptural pieces and interactive experiences, Forgotten Fleece Tales provides an immersive and in-depth exploration of the enduring value of Scottish fleece, both in terms of farming and textiles heritage, and hopes for a sustainable future.
The theme of “forgotten” fleece will bind the pieces together in the form of a unique piece of short fiction written for each creation. These tales will draw on aspects of Scottish folklore, history, and landscapes. They will invite readers to connect more closely with the story of wool – both in the pieces on display, and in their everyday lives. Visitors can engage with these stories in their written format, or follow QR codes to discover video recordings.
This exploration of fleece in folklore will be further drawn upon by a featured panel funded by the Scottish Government, exploring the role of textiles in our country’s lore and legend, and including traditional stories retold by a renowned folklore expert.
Forgotten Fleece Tales aims to engage visitors with sensory experiences, challenging them to honour wool’s place in our heritage, and to rethink it as a sustainable and versatile material for our future.