Pitch opportunity: create a digital walking tour to showcase historic images for Cromarty Museum

Nicola Henderson Blog , , , , , 0 Comment
Pitch opportunity: create a digital walking tour to showcase historic images for Cromarty Museum

Cromarty Museum is looking to commission a production company to design and deliver a location-based digital heritage experience based on a significant photographic collection documenting Cromarty’s historic fishing community. This opportunity is available through the Highlands and Islands Digital Heritage Network, a National Lottery Heritage Fund digital development programme.

The project will showcase a 1903 collection of photographs by Willie John Smith, providing public access to part of the museum’s collection during its extended closure for redevelopment. The images document the working lives, social conditions, dress and community relationships of Cromarty’s fishing community at the beginning of the 20th century. The photographs represent a way of life that has since disappeared and are of strong local and national interest.

The project aims to engage local community members to co-create new content including oral history, forming part of an immersive audio narrative. The museum is keen to explore how innovative digital technology can elevate the walking tour experience. For example, through subtle animation to bring historic photographs to life and through creative use of sound and storytelling.

The final output will be a free, mobile-access location-based 8-10 stop digital walking tour through the town of Cromarty, and a fully accessible online version for remote audiences.

The project will launch in mid-August 2026..

About Cromarty Museum
Cromarty Museum collects and exhibits the cultural heritage of the historic town of Cromarty and the surrounding area on the Black Isle. It’s building is a Grade A former courthouse currently operating reduced opening hours as they work towards capital redevelopment. This project will allow the museum to continue to share the history of the town with its visitors – local, national and international – during this period of closure.

Budget and requirements
The total project budget is £18,500 ex VAT

Submission requirements
Interested production companies are invited to submit:

  • A short statement of interest
    Relevant examples of previous digital heritage or location-based work.
    Outline creative approach.
    Initial technical proposal.
    Proposed budget breakdown (creative, technical development, production, testing, contingency)
    Key personnel and experience.
    Confirmation of availability within the proposed timeline.

  • Download EOI_Cromarty_Museum here

Deadline
The deadline for responses is Friday 10 April 2026 at 5pm.
Submissions should be sent to curator@cromartymuseum.org.uk

Pitch opportunity: create an audio experience for Scapa Flow Museum in Orkney

Nicola Henderson Blog , , , , 0 Comment
Pitch opportunity: create an audio experience for Scapa Flow Museum in Orkney

Calling audio producers
As part of a National Lottery Heritage Fund digital development programme, The Highland and Islands Digital Heritage Network is looking for a production partner to partner with Scapa Flow Museum to create a series of audio stories that tell the story of life in Orkney – and the history the islands have witnessed – from the First World War to the present day.

The project, entitled Voices from Scapa Flow, will include existing sound archive and new audio stories, which the production partner will research and curate from local communities across the Orkney Islands. The audio stories will be available in-venue at the museum on Hoy and also reversioned to be published online in a podcast format.

The museum is seeking an experienced audio production company or audio producer(s) to collaborate with them on the project, which will launch in September 2026. Production will require a combination of remote and location work in Orkney.

About Scapa Flow Museum
Scapa Flow Museum tells the story of a remote but immense natural harbour off the far north coast of Scotland as the centre of the British naval universe during both world wars. Hundreds of thousands of military personnel passed through Orkney during the world wars – meaning millions of people alive today could have links to the artefacts at Scapa Flow Museum.

An equally important story is one of how this influx of thousands of service people affected the daily lives of the people of Orkney and left a lasting legacy on the archipelago.

Budget
The commission budget is £13,000 including VAT. This is to include any travel and expenses incurred to be on site.

There is a separate budget of £1,225 (including VAT) for community engagement work.

The brief
The full tender document is available to vies here –  Scapa_Flow_RFP_2.

Response requirements:
Please include the following in your response to the brief:

  • A summary of your understanding of the brief
    Your response to the brief and how you would handle key requirements as outlined
    Examples and links to any relevant prior work
    Details of team members that would work on the project, their planned role and prior relevant experience
    Your proposed budget and timeline for the project, in line with the brief above
    How you plan to manage the project, particularly with regard to the location and any key processes you intend to use for podcast publication
    Details of 2 clients who could provide references or evidence from testimonials of working on similar projects previously.
    Contact details for any queries about your proposal

How to respond
To apply, please submit your RFP in accordance with the brief by emailing Ellen.Pesci@orkney.gov.uk with the subject line “RFP: Voices From Scapa Flow” by Wednesday 4 March, 5pm

Any questions?
If you have any queries about the opportunity or the brief, please email Ellen.Pesci@orkney.gov.uk with the subject line “RFP: Voices From Scapa Flow” by Monday 2 March 2026.

MGS Advocacy Campaign – get involved!

Nicola Henderson Blog , , , , , , 0 Comment
MGS Advocacy Campaign – get involved!

Museums Galleries Scotland launches national advocacy campaign ahead of the 2026 Scottish Parliament election, calling on political parties to recognise museums as essential civic infrastructure.

Museums Galleries Scotland has launched a national advocacy campaign, Museums: Scotland’s Stories, Scotland’s Future, and is urging museums across the country to actively take part ahead of the 2026 Scottish Parliament election on May 7th.
The campaign responds to pressure on cultural funding and increased attention on the role of civic institutions. It aims to ensure museums are visible in political debate and recognised not only as custodians of the past, but as active contributors to Scotland’s future.

David McDonald, Senior Advocacy and Public Affairs Manager at MGS said:
“The months ahead offer us an opportunity to shape how museums are understood by those who will hold power in the next Parliament. Scotland’s museums support learning, wellbeing, community connection, local pride, and economic recovery every day. If these contributions are not clearly articulated, museums risk being overlooked when national priorities are set.”

This campaign aims to make a clear and positive case for sustained investment and recognition. It brings together four national policy asks that highlight where government action can make the greatest difference, they are:
– Multi-year support for the Museum Futures programme
– Recognition of museums as forces for social good
– Support for museums as trusted civic spaces for inclusion
– Capital investment to reduce museums’ carbon footprints and adapt for a changing climate

In addition to these national priorities, the campaign provides every museum with the opportunity to add its own local fifth ask, connecting national ambition with local need. By gathering and aligning these local priorities, MGS aims to demonstrate that challenges facing museums are systemic and that investment in the sector supports national outcomes through local action.

​MGS has created a toolkit  to make it simple for museums of all sizes to take part in the campaign. The toolkit includes various templates to help museums engage with local candidates, create social media content, and send out press releases.

Winter Pause or Quiet Beat? Highland Museums Adjust Hours

Nicola Henderson Blog , , , , , 0 Comment
Winter Pause or Quiet Beat? Highland Museums Adjust Hours

As the evening’s grow longer and the days shorter, many of our Highland museum adjust their opening schedule. Some go into hibernation for a few months, re-launching with gusto around Easter, but a growing number stay open during the quieter season – just with slightly reduced hours. Will you be travelling to the Highlands this winter and looking for a heritage fix? Then please do check ahead to ensure you time your visit just right. Many that are closed, will open just for you if you get in touch in advance so even if the hours don’t suit – all is not lost

Seasonal opening isn’t just about visitor numbers — it’s about balance. For many Highland museums, closing or scaling back in winter is what keeps them sustainable the rest of the year. It’s a time to care for collections, rest and retrain staff and volunteers, fundraise and prepare new displays, projects and/or exhibitions. For those that stay open, even on reduced hours, it’s a lifeline for local people — a warm welcome, a place to connect and a reminder that heritage is about people. The rhythm of opening and closing mirrors Highland life itself: responsive, resourceful and rooted in community.

MuseumWinter / Seasonal NotesSpecific Hours (if published)Website
Gairloch MuseumPartial winter openingNov 3 – Dec 17, 2025: Wed–Sat 10:00 – 4:00. 10:00 – 5:00. https://www.gairlochmuseum.org/visit
Strathnaver Museum, BettyhillSeasonal / reduced winter hoursTue–Thu 10:00 – 2:00 Outwith hours: by arrangementhttps://www.strathnavermuseum.org.uk/visit-us/
Groam House Museum (Rosemarkie / Black Isle)Seasonal / limited winter opening1 Nov – 14 Dec: open Saturdays & Sundays 11:00 – 2:00https://groamhouse.org.uk/
Waterlines Heritage, LybsterOpen year-round – hours may be slightly reducedWednesday – Saturday 10am – 3pmhttps://waterlineslybster.co.uk/
Inverness Museum & Art GalleryReduced / winter schedule (remains open)Nov–Mar: Tues–Thurs 12:00 – 16:00; Fri & Sat 11:00 – 16:00; closed Sun & Monhttps://www.highlifehighland.com/inverness-museum-and-art-gallery/
West Highland Museum, Fort WilliamOpen year-round – hours may be slightly reducedMon–Fri 10:00 – 16:00; Sat 10:30 – 16:00https://www.westhighlandmuseum.org.uk/
Timespan, HelmsdaleReduced hoursPhone ahead to checkhttps://timespan.org.uk/visit/
Culloden BattlefieldOpen year round3 Nov–28 Feb 2026, daily, 09.00–16.00https://www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/culloden/planning-your-visit
Grantown MuseumSeasonal (closed in winter)Visit by appointment may be possible – phone aheadhttps://www.grantownmuseum.co.uk/
Highland Museum of Childhood, StrathpefferSeasonal (closed in winter)Visit by appointment may be possible – phone aheadhttps://highlandmuseumofchildhood.org.uk/
Ullapool MuseumSeasonal (closed in winter)Visit by appointment may be possible – phone aheadhttps://www.ullapoolmuseum.co.uk/
Tarbat Discovery Centre, PortmahomackSeasonal (closed in winter)Visit by appointment may be possible – phone aheadhttps://www.tarbat-discovery.co.uk/
Tain & District MuseumSeasonal (closed in winter)Visit by appointment may be possible – phone aheadhttps://www.tainmuseum.org.uk/
Wick Heritage MuseumSeasonal (closed in winter)Visit by appointment may be possible – phone aheadhttps://www.wickheritage.org/
Historylinks Museum, DornochSeasonal (closed in winter)Visit by appointment may be possible – phone aheadhttps://www.historylinks.org.uk/
Glencoe Folk MuseumclosedUndergoing redevelopmenthttps://www.glencoemuseum.com/
Highland Folk Museum, Newtonmore Fully seasonal (closed in winter)Visit by appointment may be possible – phone aheadhttps://www.highlifehighland.com/highlandfolkmuseum/
Nairn MuseumSeasonal (closed in winter)Visit by appointment may be possible – phone aheadhttps://nairnmuseum.co.uk/
Cromarty CourthouseSeasonal (closed in winter)Visit by appointment may be possible – phone aheadhttps://www.cromarty-courthouse.org.uk/visit-us/
Dingwall MuseumSeasonal (closed in winter)Visit by appointment may be possible – phone aheadhttps://www.dingwallmuseum.info/
Arctic convoy museum, AultbeaSeasonal (closed in winter)Visit by appointment may be possible – phone aheadhttps://arcticconvoymuseum.org/
North Coast Visitor Centre, ThursoSeasonal (closed in winter)Visit by appointment may be possible – phone aheadhttps://www.highlifehighland.com/north-coast-visitor-centre/
Mallaig Heritage CentreSeasonal (closed in winter)Visit by appointment may be possible – phone aheadhttps://www.mallaigheritage.org.uk/index.php
Hugh Miller’s Birthplace Cottage and Museum, CromartySeasonal (closed from 9th November apart from special events)Visit by appointment may be possible – phone aheadhttps://www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/hugh-millers-birthplace

MHH seeks Project Coordinator for exciting digital project

Nicola Henderson Blog 0 Comment
MHH seeks Project Coordinator for exciting digital project

We’re looking for a skilled Programme Coordinator to oversee delivery of the Highlands and Islands Digital Heritage Network, a pioneering national pilot helping 9 rural museums build digital skills, engage new audiences and share their unique heritage stories.

  • Contract: Freelance (October 2025 start, 18 months)
  • Fee: Up to £18,000 (inclusive of VAT)
  • Commitment: ~1 day per week, with some UK travel
  • Location: Home-based, with visits to museums across the Highlands and Islands

This role will suit someone with experience in cultural or digital project management, strong facilitation skills and a passion for supporting museums to thrive in the digital age.

Apply now

Send your CV and one of the following (letter, video, voice note, or presentation) outlining your experience, interest in the role, and proposed daily rate to Siobhán Beatson at chair@museumsandheritagehighland.org.uk by 24th September.

Interviews: Held via Zoom w/c 29th September (questions shared in advance).
Applicants must have the right to work in the UK.

Made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, this role will support museums across the Highlands and Islands to build their digital futures.

HIDHN_jobpackDownload

Brand-new podcast ‘Highlands Reimagined’ asks why young people leave northwest Sutherland

Nicola Henderson Blog , , , , 0 Comment
Brand-new podcast ‘Highlands Reimagined’ asks why young people leave northwest Sutherland

On 2nd September 2025, Strathnaver Museum launches a new podcast series called ‘Highlands Reimagined’.

The podcast was commissioned by Strathnaver Museum, is produced by Anya Media and published in partnership with the Wild for Scotland podcast.

The ‘Highlands Reimagined’ podcast explores why young people leave northwest Sutherland and what will encourage them to build their futures in the region. It features interviews with students from Farr High School, local entrepreneurs and remote workers across three thirty-minute episodes.

Using objects in the museum collection, the young people explore the age-old problem of Highland depopulation and outward economic migration. Through interviews with national and regional representatives from government, agencies and community organisations, the young people discuss their hopes and fears for their future as part of their Highland community.

The podcast emerged from Will Sadler’s successful 2024 Artist in Residence project with Strathnaver Museum, where he used objects in the museum collection to explore issues relevant to Highland communities today. The Artist Residency Programme has been part funded by Museums Galleries Scotland, The William Syson Foundation, the Children’s and Young People’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund, and has received £5,755 from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Fiona Mackenzie, Strathnaver Museum manager, explains: “We have many fascinating objects in our collection which can help us explore and understand issues which affect us today. We are incredibly excited about the launch of ‘Highlands Reimagined’ which provides a vehicle for our young people to share their hopes and concerns for their future within their Highland community.”
Will Sadler, the podcast’s producer says: “This podcast explores the differences between the picture-postcard Highlands of my childhood holidays and the complex reality of growing up there. The goal isn’t to dismiss an appreciation for Scotland’s natural beauty, but to enrich it by revealing the nuances of life in one of Western Europe’s most sparsely populated areas as it faces ongoing population challenges. Fundamentally, I hope the show encourages us all to consider what role we play in helping to build a more resilient future for this beautiful place.”

Kathi Kamleitner, co-producer of the Wild for Scotland travel podcast, notes: “The northern Highlands are often presented as a ‘wild’ and rugged landscape to be enjoyed by tourists seeking vastness and space. But it’s important not to lose sight of the people who call these landscapes their home. ‘Highlands Reimagined’ paints a complex picture of modern life in the Highlands and centres the lived experiences that often get omitted in favour of a romanticised landscape.

To find out more visit highlandsreimagined.com

Working with young people – a digital toolkit

Nicola Henderson Resources , , , , , , 0 Comment
Working with young people – a digital toolkit

Young volunteers can bring something very special to a museum or heritage organisation. Fresh energy and ideas, new areas of expertise, more visitors, and opportunities for succession planning to name just a few.

This toolkit will help you to identify why young volunteers would benefit your organisation, how you could benefit them and how to go about recruiting. It will also provide you with tools, templates and tips to ensure everyone has a safe and positive experience.

This toolkit has been designed in partnership between Museums & Heritage Highland and Dingwall Museum with funding support from Museums Galleries Scotland and The Space.

Toolkit for Young VolunteersDownload

Workforce wellbeing – a digital toolkit

Nicola Henderson Resources , , , , , 0 Comment
Workforce wellbeing – a digital toolkit

Workforce wellbeing is vital to ensuring the sustainability and resilience of our Museum and Heritage organisations. While our organisations work to deliver wellbeing benefits to our communities, it has become increasingly important that the wellbeing of our workforce is prioritised. As any in-flight safety briefing will tell you, ‘put on your own oxygen mask first’. If we do not provide our workforce with the tools necessary to identify and address concerns, they will be unable to provide the services to their communities.

In this toolkit we will look at tools, templates, workshops, and tips to help your organisation improve workforce wellbeing. It will help you to identify what your organisation is doing well and where it could be doing better. We will consider policies & practices, team working, culture, and collaboration & consultation.

This toolkit has been designed in partnership between Museums & Heritage Highland and Brora Heritage with funding support from Museums Galleries Scotland and The Space.

Toolkit for WellbeingDownload

There are a set of template documents to accompany the above toolkit.
Download the Wellbeing Resource Pack here.

Remote Volunteering – a digital toolkit

Nicola Henderson Resources , , , , , , 0 Comment
Remote Volunteering – a digital toolkit

This toolkit aims to help museums build remote volunteering opportunities that allow people from all places and walks of life to work with their resources and collections. The tools are divided into sections on Preparation, Initiation, and Reflection. Templates and links to further resources are included at the end.

This toolkit has been designed in partnership between Museums & Heritage Highland and the Arctic Convoy Museum with funding support from Museums Galleries Scotland and The Space.

Remote Volunteering ToolkitDownload

Screen Arts Films Features Highland Museum Displays & Archives

Nicola Henderson Blog 0 Comment
Screen Arts Films Features Highland Museum Displays & Archives

Screen Arts specialists, Poetic Film School, has had a busy year delivering training and festival screening events across the far north Highlands. Robert Aitken tells us all about the work going on and ambitions for the future.

The main aim of Poetic Film School was to bring host partner based displays and archives to the fore with visual stories from within local communities, tackling issues such as environment, energy transition and rapidly changing landscapes.

It was important to break down these very real concerns and connect to our past to help inform present day challenges. This is what makes it all the more important to re-examine past trials, hardships and successes; to reinvigorate how we coped with, reacted to and leant from often complex changes.


In-Between Place Film Festival
Poetic Film School’s most recent activities have been screenings of the ‘In-Between Place Film Festival’; three films produced at education events with communities at Helmsdale, Lairg and Strathnaver last summer. The culmination was the making of three short-films which made great use of archives, artefacts and displays, as well as the great locations offered at each locale. The community films produced were –
THE FARR OGHAM – a revelation of story and mythology about the Picts.
TEND – an intimate portrait of one person’s life to care for the sick and poorly and how her legacy inspires a community to nurture each other today.
PLIGHTING THE ORD AN LUIRG – a signal sent from past, present and future that reminds us of the fragility and wonder of humans being tethered to the land.

You can watch the ‘In-Between Place Film Festival’ trailer at this link:
https://www.facebook.com/poeticfilmschool/videos/1120744822764784

SCREENSKILLS Collaborative 

Screen-skills are now one of today’s main communication tools yet there exists very little by way of education and learning. The ‘SCREENSKILLS Collaborative’ now establishes a transferable digital skills framework for communities across the Highlands in response. The uses for museums and heritage organisations alone are numerous and includes understanding past responses to turbulent periods of change. Exploring such themes through collaborative and accessible Screen Arts training can help create new narratives, insights and perspectives with new host partner screening events.

Community Cinemas

Just about any host venue can be turned into a ‘Community Cinema’. Poetic Film School has worked with a range of organisations screening all kinds of newly filmed cultural stories. Main factors to consider include access, appropriate technology for the room size and ensuring the space can be suitably darkened for projection. The biggest consideration is to ‘create a social experience’ for your attendees. Allow time for refreshments at the start and a mid-event comfort break for longer events. Screening more local themed films will engage much more active discourse, so consider a discussion session at the end.

License to Screen 

Most filmed material needs permission to be shown publicly, which is usually attained from the ‘Rights’ or ‘Copyright’ holder. Sometimes it’s not always clear who this is and there may also be multiple ‘Rights’ holders that need to be contacted. There are some exceptions for film licenses, such as educational screenings, but you should always check your venue qualifies for each chosen film. Do remember to factor any licensing fees in event costs too, which is normally based around audience size.

Many venues find it problematic acquiring films around local themes with simple licensing. As such Poetic Film School is now exploring a new ‘Screen Arts Film Archive’ with easy licensing options offering mix of film lengths and themes for event programmers and curators. Options for converting old film reels and video tape for digital screening with an associated ‘Found-Film Project’ are also being explored.

The Evolution of Training in far North Highlands
We may be better connected digitally today but the physical scapes around us still shape us. Connecting in person is seen as one of our main training focuses. But there is much more to our training than learning new digital skills – we are building a culture of documented story-telling based on past wisdoms that itself builds on centuries of legacy writing and poetics. The evolution of Screen Arts training in far north Highlands now lies in the visual documentation of what we leave behind.
Changes to environments and landscapes are only truly felt by people when they experience a place over time. The last time the far North Highlands saw such a scape-shift was post war. Today, the Highlands faces many of the same issues around its economy, energy and environment. Large scale changes happening around us today directly affect tomorrow’s history and heritage. The ability to capture this through engaging community Screen Art stories, working with museums, heritage orgs. and all kinds of host venues is at the heart of Poetic Film School.

Robert Aitken
Poetic Film School