Once again the tranquil setting of the Old Station at Strathpeffer is being disturbed the the rumble of heavy machinery, but it is not steam trains full of tourists that are breaching the peace, but the excavations of diggers and lorries. It's conctruction time again at the Highland Museum of Childhood.
Like so many museums in the Highlands and Islands, space had become a problem. There were many useful artefacts stored in less than ideal conditions in a shared garage at Balintore; not handy for monitoring, browsing, special viewings or audtiting. However the most important consideration was the Musuems committment to education and community.
"This is particularly challenged when dealing with school and group visits, running community events or children’s workshops, and allowing study access. We do lots of work with schools and groups but everyone agrees we need more space – and we could do even more!" said HMOC Curator, Jennifer Maxwell.
"The new learning spaces will enable us to offer a wider range of community activities." she continued. "We plan to use the education spaces to enhance and develop our activities in these areas: Teaching sessions, school visits, group visits, meetings, community and outreach events, workshops for children and adults, drama and interpretation events, and temporary gallery space. The spaces will also be used for collections care work, exhibition development, study access, Friends events, staff and volunteer training and other museum management meetings. We will be able to host partnership and networking events with other Highland Museums such as co-members of the Highlands & Islands Museums Forum."
Taking it's name from the old building that had been on the site, this represents the fruition of several years work, for Jennifer. The main funder was The Heritage Lottery Fund, but Jennifer also acknowledges contributions from many other sources: HIe, Highland Leader, The Robertson Trust, The Highland Council, MGS and several anonymous donors. LDN Architects Forres are lead consultants, and work is being done by local firm, Global Construction of Muir of Ord.
"A great deal of effort and co-ordination has gone into this" says Jennifer breathlessly," I am very excited for the museum, and the community. It will all seem worth it when it finishes in May this year. Keep your eyes on the press for our opening"