Gu’an the fish n’that by Beverley Carruthers
4th April to 6th June | Strathnaver Museum Annex
Monday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm
Gu’un the fish n’that, inspired by the cultural heritage of the women who worked as migrant workers in the herring industry, is an evocative sound installation by East Anglian based artist Beverley Carruthers.
Inspired by the story of her own Grandmother Barbara Aliston, Beverley compiled in depth interviews with the last generation of Fesh Quines exploring their stories through the labour and living conditions they endured alongside their enriching living history and cultural legacy of knitting and singing. Beverley has expertly woven these elements into this engaging and fascinating sound installation.
Beverley’s work resists the romanticised version of the herring girls history, which has often been marginalised anyway, instead celebrating the women’s migrant labour and their importance to the fishing industry.
Salt to Plate by Debasis Biswas
12th June to 31st October | Strathnaver Museum Annex
Monday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm
Exploring 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.
2027 Exhibitions
Forgotten Fleece Tales
1st June to 31st August 2027 | Strathnaver Museum Annex
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.
Digital exhibitions:
Over the years Strathnaver Museum and partners have delivered a wide range of community co-curated exhibitions, some of which have been digitised as a more permanent record.
2019 Rob Donn Mackay – explore 18th Century Mackay Country through a contemporary artistic interpretation of this renowned Gaelic bard
2015 Pibrochs and Poppies – exploring WWI through music
2014 A Mackay Journey – Bicentenary of the Strathnaver Clearances. Due to its popularity this exhibition has been extended and can be viewed in the Mackay Room.
2012 Moving Times and Museum Tales – an exciting collaboration with Mackay Country Trust exploring a range of topics including hostelling, schooling, migration, ceilidh culture and much more. Background to the project can be found on the project page.
2010 Burr’s of Tongue – Discover the story of Burr’s and the services they delivered to the people of Mackay Country and beyond.
2004 Back to the Future – a year long research project to gather historical information, photographs, and stories to find out about the past, the present, and what the Future of Mackay Country is. Much of the material gathering is part of the Mackay Country Archive, available to browse in the research room at Strathnaver Museum.
Home Front – gathers and shares World War II memories of folk throughout Mackay Country.
Kyle of Tongue – learn more about the area around the Kyle of Tongue.