Latest News

The Sanday Shipwreck has been nominated for the Rescue Project of the year at the Current Archaeology Awards. This nomination follows on from the Wreck being named one of the top archaeological finds in 2024 by ‘Dig It!’, a hub for Scottish archaeology coordinated by the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland.  

A free exhibition honouring the remarkable life of the late Florrie Sinclair, a pioneering dance instructor whose influence spanned from Orkney to Singapore, will open at the Orkney Museum, Kirkwall, on Thursday 6 November 2025.

A new exhibition featuring recent paintings by local artist Jennifer Austin opens next Saturday at the Orkney Museum.

Orkney Islands Council is inviting applications for its Culture Fund – a scheme aimed at supporting cultural activity in Orkney.

All available evidence points to the vessel having been 17th century warship and survivor of sieges, HMS Hind, before becoming mighty Arctic whaling vessel Earl Chatham.

A dazzling silver sword, recovered from the wreck of the tragic HMS Royal Oak in the years following the disaster, has been returned to Orkney from Canada with the help of naval officers and museums professionals from around the world.

A cultural feast of public art supported by Orkney Islands Council awaits locals and visitors alike during the 2025 Orkney International Island Games. 

Orkney’s deep Viking history is being brought to life in an exciting new exhibition at The Orkney Museum, opening on Saturday, 10 May 2025. This permanent exhibition will immerse visitors in the story of the Vikings in Orkney, featuring never-before-seen artiefacts, interactive displays, and cutting-edge technology - including the UK’s first AI-powered Viking character, Ragna.

The Travelling Gallery, a brightly coloured bus which has been bringing contemporary art to communities around Scotland for more than 40 years, is visiting Orkney again in early May, with the ongoing support of Orkney Islands Council and Northlink Ferries. 

A specially created ‘dress’ dedicated to the memory of a local woman, Marabel Couper, who was found guilty of witchcraft and condemned to death ‘by public strangulation and burning at Gallow Ha’, in 1624, will be unveiled soon at Orkney Library and Archive.