Pier Arts Centre's £4.5 million redevelopment
Building
History
Collection
Funding
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Following on from winning a Scottish 2008 Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Award , The Pier Arts Centre in Stromness has gone on to win the national prize.
The Pier Arts Centre Project was announced as one of only two Scottish winners, from a shortlist of five projects, at a dinner in London’s Hilton Hotel on Friday 11 July, the other being BBC Scotland at Pacific Quay, Glasgow. |
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The outstanding paintings and sculpture in the Pier’s care, and the special charm of the gallery itself, have long made the centre a compelling reason for visiting the islands. Now the completion of a £4.5 million redevelopment has enhanced the Pier Arts Centre’s reputation as a Scottish gallery of international standing. |
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At the heart of the two-year project is a 'once in a career' building designed by award winning architect Neil Gillespie, design director of Edinburgh-based practice Reiach and Hall. Built from glass and zinc, the building is strikingly modern, yet it sits comfortably in the midst of Stromness’ winding streets and historic seafront buildings. |
Two of those buildings, both dating from the 18th century, have housed the Pier Arts Centre since it opened in 1979. The new building extends the centre. It offers considerable extra gallery space, links the existing buildings in a way that makes them fully accessible for all, and provides the Pier with new opportunities to expand its cultural, educational and social activities.
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The Pier Arts Centre was established to provide a home for the art collection donated to the people of Orkney by the author, peace activist and philanthropist Margaret Gardiner (1904-2005). |
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Seen as a key figure in the development of British modernist art in the middle years of the 20th century, Margaret was an early champion of some of the greatest artists of the period, including Barbara Hepworth and Ben Nicholson. |
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The collection encompasses paintings and sculpture, of exceptional quality, by British artists who were instrumental in importing and extending the ideas of the European avant-garde. It also contains pre-eminent examples of work by Patrick Heron, Sir Terry Frost, Roger Hilton, Sir Eduardo Paolozzi, Alan Davie, Alfred Wallis and Naum Gabo among others.
 
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The collection’s home for almost 30 years, a stone building once used by the Hudson’s Bay Company, has now been equipped with sophisticated environmental, safety and security systems to ensure the works receive the highest level of care. Sympathetically refurbished, the gallery has lost none of its charm and, as ever, is filled with the sparkle of the sea.
The collection has grown steadily since 1979 and now contains 116 works spanning the period from 1929 to the present day. Recent acquisitions of work by internationally acclaimed contemporary artists, including Sean Scully and Olafur Eliasson, add a 21st century dimension to the art on permanent display at the Pier. All reflect the themes of colour and light so evident in paintings and sculpture that formed Margaret Gardiner’s generous gift to the islands she loved.
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The project was made possible with the help of an award of £1,990,000 from the Scottish Arts Council National Lottery Fund and additional support from Heritage Lottery Fund, as well as funding from the European Union, Orkney Islands Council and Historic Scotland. |