Stornoway’s art centre An Lanntair set to reopen its doors

The arts centre is to take its first step in a phased re-opening which will see the building’s ground floor open from August 17th for the first four weeks; welcoming visitors to enjoy the brand new An Lanntair Sketchbook Project exhibition in the main gallery.

The gift shop will also be open during this first phase, and refreshments and lite-bites will be on offer via an outside catering pod located on An Lanntair’s forecourt.

An Lanntair Chief Executive Elly Fletcher said: “We have been chomping at the bit to get going and the whole team is incredibly excited to welcome our community and visitors back to An Lanntair.

“We have been working hard behind the scenes to put in place safety and hygiene measures to help our staff and the public to socially distance and stay safe, whilst importantly enjoying everything that An Lanntair has on offer. We can’t wait to open the doors and invite everyone in!”

Re-opening the main gallery is an art exhibition created by island residents during Lockdown as the Sketchbook Project delivered a month-long series of daily challenges, designed to engage people in creative activity on a daily basis during a difficult time.

Over 100 people were posted a sketchbook and emailed daily challenges or prompts over thirty days. Joe Mahony, An Lanntair Head of Education & Outreach, said: “Those participating could respond in any way they wished. Some people emailed their responses as the project progressed which were then displayed on our Artists Support website HA! Hebridean Artists, and that gave a real communal feel to the project.”

Completed sketchbooks were returned by post to An Lanntair, and the resulting Sketchbook Project exhibition will present over 3,000 scanned images, alongside the sketchbooks themselves, as well as being exhibited online as part of An Lanntair’s Virtual Gallery.

It is anticipated, remaining in-line with any changes to government restrictions, that An Lanntair will enter phase two of its re-opening mid-September.

This phase will see the second floor Café Bar areas once again welcome visitors and the re-start of the cinema programme, with limited audience seating arrangements and procedures in place to support social distancing.

Plans for An Lanntair’s Performing Arts programme and wider Education and Outreach programme are in progress and on-going, taking into account all of Government and industry guidance; and there is a wealth of creative activities, entertainment, education, music and virtual art galleries available online at www.lanntair.com