After a busy few months of consultations and design, we are excited to be able to offer you a first sneak preview of our Redevelopment Plans!
Design work has been rapidly advancing behind the scenes on our £1.3m lottery-funded redevelopment, scheduled to open in 2023. Peter Drummond architects and Mather & Co. exhibition designers have been working with staff, trustees and the local community to create a vibrant attraction that is fit for the 21st century while still retaining the traditional look and much-loved charm of the original.
Our plans include the erection of a new building at the back of the Museum’s historic cottages, creating a new reception, gift shop and exhibition area which will allow our fantastic collection to be suitably displayed and interpreted in a purpose-built space for the first time. The cottages themselves will also be restored and reinterpreted. Funding from the Pilgrim Trust has been secured to renew the heather thatch and help the Museum ensure its long-term preservation. We plan to complement this traditional natural roof with a new “living” roof on the extension.
A highlight of the new displays will be an immersive, state-of-the-art projection and audio feature recreating the atmosphere of a MacDonald cottage on the night of the infamous Massacre of Glencoe of 1692. This emotive exhibition will bring to life the personal stories of the Massacre and give a clear understanding of the religious, political and cultural environment that allowed such an atrocity to take place. This image gives an impression of how this area might look:
Over the last couple of months, we have been sharing our plans with our volunteers and local groups, gathering feedback and opinions so that we can shape the new museum into something that the community can be proud of. Parris, our Learning and Engagement Officer, and two interpretative designers from Mather & Co., Leanne Clydesdale and Hanna Lorenz, recently conducted community engagement workshops. They asked locals to tour the museum and refamiliarise themselves with the objects and stories currently displayed, reflecting on what themes they saw as important and relevant, and what was not representative of their community. The participants also took part in engaging workshops where the team listened to their honest feedback and insightful suggestions. The team will analyse the responses and share them with NHLF in the next stage of the funding application.
There’s still a lot of work ahead to make our redevelopment dreams a reality - including fundraising and seeking planning permission as well as the more hands-on jobs like selecting artefacts and planning exhibitions - but we’re on-track to making a museum that we hope will be a real hub for local heritage and will continue to bring Glencoe’s unique history to life for the community and our visitors from around the globe. Stay tuned for updates!
The Museum will open for the 2022 season on Saturday 2nd April - a last chance to visit the museum in its current form before the redevelopment work begins in September!