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Scottish Fisheries Museum wins National Award

by Linda Fitzpatrick News

Scottish Fisheries Museum wins National Award
Scottish Fisheries Museum wins National Award

The Scottish Fisheries Museum has won a prestigious Engaging People Award from the Association for Heritage Interpretation (AHI) for engaging communities during Lockdown through Knitting the Herring - Scotland’s National Gansey Project.

Knitting the Herring - Scotland’s National Gansey Project took the top prize in the Lockdown Response category of the Awards which celebrate the best heritage, cultural, natural and science experiences across Britain and Ireland.

As a Category Winner, the Scottish Fisheries Museum now goes forward to the overall AHI Award for Excellence which will be announced on 18 November.

The Scottish Fisheries Museum developed Knitting the Herring - Scotland’s National Gansey Project to raise awareness of the textile heritage of Scotland’s fishing communities specifically the Museum’s Recognised Collection of fishermen’s knitwear – or ‘ganseys’ – which reflect the often-unsung creativity of female, domestic, craft and design.

When Knitting the Herring launched in July 2020, Lockdown was in place. Undaunted, the Museum quickly recognised opportunities to use the project to reach out and support people of all ages who began looking for new ways to connect and adapted the planned activities.

The resulting project, which was funded by Fife LEADER, Outer Hebrides LEADER, NLHF and Fife Council Settlement Fund, had three core strands – the Knitting the Herring website, a wide range of outreach activities promoting gansey heritage and knitting for wellbeing and inclusion and a community exhibition, ‘SHOAL’.

Linda Fitzpatrick, Curator at the Scottish Fisheries Museum, explains:

“We are absolutely thrilled to have been recognised with this coveted Engaging People Award for our work during Lockdown. It is a tremendous acknowledgement of the Museum’s work delivering Knitting the Herring during such difficult times. It is also hugely rewarding because these awards celebrate projects from across Britain and Ireland that tell great stories and inspire visitors and local communities to explore and discover.

“With Knitting the Herring we wanted to share our wonderful collection and bring people together in the present, inspired by the heritage of the past. We wanted to raise awareness of gansey heritage and inspire everyone with the broader story of Scottish fishing.

“By responding to people’s needs during Lockdown and working with individuals, charities, community groups, schools and craft businesses on innovative solutions, Knitting the Herring grew beyond our expectations. It’s amazing to see how far-reaching the interest in gansey history has become.

“Importantly, the Knitting the Herring website will be a lasting legacy and continue to evolve as a source of inspiration and a learning hub for all who wish to understand more about the craft heritage, culture and traditions of our Scottish fishing communities.”

Bill Bevan from the AHI, commented:

“Congratulations to The Scottish Fisheries Museum for a very well-deserved recognition for Knitting the Herring. The award was given because Knitting the Herring was a well-planned project in response to an area of the Scotland Fisheries Museum’s collection, the need to record local craft and associated stories, and a general love of craft in the public.”

Although the funded Knitting the Herring - Scotland’s National Gansey Project ended in February 2021, its legacy continues through the Knitting the Herring website, international online Knit and Natter sessions, a network of over 100 enthusiasts promoting gansey-related activity, a new schools learning resource and the SHOAL exhibition.

SHOAL will open on-site at the Scottish Fisheries Museum, in December, and, it is hoped, tour to South Uist in 2022. The exhibition will, at last, enable the Museum to fulfil one of the main original aims of enabling people to see these beautiful and intricate garments first-hand.

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The Scottish Fisheries Museum Trust Ltd
St Ayles, Harbourhead, Anstruther, Fife KY10 3AB
E-mail: enquiries@scotfishmuseum.org
Tel (within UK): 01333 310628
Tel (from outside UK): +44 1333 310628
Charity Number: SC 006185 VAT Reg Number: 270 2790 64
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