Delight as Scalloway Museum receives top accreditation

SCALLOWAY Museum has been awarded the top accreditation from a national museum body.

The museum said it was “delighted” to announced it had been given full accreditation from Museums Galleries Scotland.

The accreditation scheme, which covers the whole of the UK, is the benchmark for well-run museums and galleries.

Scalloway Museum said that the achievement demonstrated that it was “sustainable, resilient and delivering high-quality experiences”.

Operated by the Shetland Bus Friendship Society, the museum celebrates and preserves the unique history of Scalloway and the Shetland Bus operation.

The award, which comes on the back of the official opening of the Prince Olav Slipway, recognises the dedication of its volunteers and supporters, whose commitment has helped the museum thrive since its opening in 2012.

Scalloway Museum curator Laurie Goodlad said they were “thrilled” by the news.

“It has been a lot of work to get to this stage, and I can’t thank the trustees of the museum enough for their support in finalising the application,” she said.

“This achievement is a real testament to the tireless work of our volunteers, trustees, and the many thousands of visitors who come through the doors each season, ensuring that Scalloway Museum not only preserves our community’s story but also shares it with visitors from around the world.

“Without our volunteers, there would quite simply be no museum in Scalloway.

“Accreditation is recognition of everything they make possible.”

Shetland Bus Friendship Society chairman Charlie Grant said the award came after a “lot of hard work” by Goodlad, trustees and the museum’s volunteers.

He added it “puts the Scalloway Museum on a par with all the other museums in Scotland who are in the Museums Galleries Scotland scheme.”