Remembering Together Orkney is coming to a close

Remembering Together Orkney will have five projects across the archipelago, each one devised and co-created with the local community and reflecting the individual island community.

Flotta: The community took the words of one of their best-known residents, shopkeeper and sub-postmaster David Sinclair: "Tomorrow is a whole new day". The project involved the use of local materials, collected and worked by artist Ros Bryant, who along with members of the community built a stone seating area and table in the community playpark. A carved stone, picturing the island with many references to the stories and history of the community, was set in the mound above the seating.

Kirkwall: The final project for Kirkwall will be completed early in 2025. Visit the web page at the foot of this post for updates.

North Ronaldsay: North Ronaldsay has taken the unique island sheep dyke, which circumnavigates the entire island, keeping the North Ronaldsay sheep off the rich cattle grazing land and holding them on the shore where they eat seaweed, as the starting point for its Remembering Together project, along with the circular stone shelters developed to support the growing of crops and keep them from being burned by the harsh and strong winds. A tall and sheltered circular stone seat in the shelter of the New Kirk will provide a space for contemplation, for dark skies watching and for taking a moment out of the wind for residents and visitors.

Sanday: Artist and Sanday resident Jake Ghaleb has spent time yarning with residents of the island about their experiences of covid and created a book of portraits and words which beautifully reflect the unique and often harrowing experience of covid in what might seem to be a haven away from the full effects. A copy of the book will be gifted to every household on the island, as well as an exhibition of the portraits being placed in the community centre. 

Shapinsay: An area of wasteland is being transformed in to a haven for flora and fauna, a reflective space and the site of a small stepped platform for community activity, poetry readings, or just a slightly elevated space for sitting and contemplation. Artists Louise Barrington and Megumi Barrington have worked with the Shapinsay Wellbeing Project, the local Men's Shed and the congregation of the Kirk to provide the impetus to transform the space for residents and visitors to just come and 'be' and soak in the atmosphere and environment. 

For more information on the project visit Voluntary Action Orkney