Community / Old Haa museum ‘urgently’ seeking new trustees to secure future
AN HISTORIC museum, gallery and tearoom in Yell is at risk of closing in the future if it does not find more trustees.
The team behind the Old Haa museum say they “urgently” need more trustees.
Old Haa Museum SCIO secretary Patricia Odie said “two of our trustees are leaving Shetland, which means we will be down to seven”.
“Our constitution calls for between six and 15 trustees, and we are unable to operate if we cannot achieve this.”
They are looking for trustees from all parts of Yell to “help keep this great, and unique, institution running and open for all”.
“The existing trustees are very dedicated but we just need more help,” Odie said.
“Trustees are not required to help out in the day-to-day running of the tearoom but to help with all the ‘behind the scenes work’.”
It comes as visitor numbers increase year on year, with nearly 7,000 folk – including people from around the world – enjoying the Old Haa last year.
The building was completed in the 1670s, with local merchant Robert Tyrie behind its formation.
It went on to become the home of various merchants and Hanseatic traders.
The then Old Haa Trust, formed in 1984, acquired the building from the Shetland Amenity Trust, with the proviso that it would “look after the building on behalf of the people of Yell.”
Contact information can be found here.
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