£30k award for framing of Tapestry of the Highlands and Islands at Inverness Castle
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A tapestry created by hundreds of stitchers in the Highlands will be framed and preserved for the future thanks to a £30,000 award.
The Tapestry of the Highlands and Islands, made up of 57 panels, will be housed in Inverness Castle when it reopens as a visitor attraction in 2025.
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) announced the award which will contributed significantly to the preservation
of the panels of which 32 will be included in the first exhibition in the North Tower as part of the Inverness Castle Experience.
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The funding announcement was made today during a site visit involving Councillor Ian Brown, the leader of Inverness city and area, HIE chief executive Stuart Black and HIE chairman Alistair Dodds.
Guests also included Sutherland stitcher Sue Gardiner and Dornoch Fibre Fest co-ordinator and fellow stitcher, Janet Thom, of Oban, who witnessed the early unveiling of the framed Sutherland Flow Country Panel crafted by Sutherland stitchers.
This panel will be being displayed at Dornoch Fibre Fest which starts tomorrow and runs until Sunday.
Cllr Brown said the project had brought communities together to celebrate their shared heritage.
"Our goal is to make the tapestry panels a source of inspiration and cultural pride for people across the Highlands," he said.
James Turner, head of strengthening communities with HIE’s Inner Moray Firth team, said having the tapestry framed would protect and preserve it and extend its lifespan.
"It could also open up opportunities for it to be displayed in other locations, for example in national galleries or exhibitions," he said.
Completed tapestry panels will be exhibited within the newly transformed Inverness Castle and at venues across the Highlands and Islands.
The tapestry was created as part of the Spirit of the Highlands and Islands project involving Highland Council and High Life Highland, delivered in collaboration with VisitScotland.
It was supported by a grant from the Natural and Cultural Heritage Fund (NCHF), led by NatureScot and part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
The Inverness Castle project is part of the Inverness and Highland City-Region Deal a joint initiative supported by up to £315m investment from the UK and Scottish governments, Highland Council, HIE and University of the Highlands and Islands, aimed at stimulating sustainable regional economic growth.
