Peterhead 2040 Newsfeed

Staff at Peterhead Library are preparing to move to their temporary new location during construction of the new library and Museum of Aberdeenshire centred around Arbuthnot House on Broad Street which is being funded by the UK Government and other external funding sources.

The library will close on Christmas Eve as Live Life Aberdeenshire staff prepare to work over the festive period to relocate to the open space near the soft play area within Peterhead Community and Leisure Centre.

There will be a temporary pause in service provision until the new arrangements are completed – but we expect to be open to customers by mid-January, still offering a very good range of books, DVDs, audio books, local studies materials and reading group collections.

Once relocated we will also continue to provide a range of digital resources including access to computers, printers and photocopying, and will still be hosting our regular community group activities.

Throughout the move and once we’re relocated at the Leisure Centre – you can still reserve books or use Click and Collect.

The library’s relocation will enable us to make improvements to the Carnegie Building on St Peter Street ahead of a new operator taking on the running of the facility as a major new arts and cultural venue for Peterhead.

Plans have been submitted for the new multi-million pound Museum of Aberdeenshire and Peterhead Library.

The project will see the listed Arbuthnot House at the lower end of Broad Street sensitively restored and extended to house both the town’s library and a new museum showcasing Aberdeenshire’s extensive heritage collections and artwork.

It forms part of the ambitious “Cultural Tides: North Sea Connections in Aberdeenshire” bid being supported with £20million from the UK Government alongside the renovation and extension of Macduff Marine Aquarium.

The new museum will provide many opportunities for local communities to learn about the heritage of their area as well as providing visitors with the full breadth and richness of the region’s stories and past.

Read the full news release here: Plans submitted for new Museum of Aberdeenshire and Peterhead Library development - Aberdeenshire Council

The survey on exhibitions and events sought to determine what people would like to see at the new venue and what price-point they would be willing to pay for these events and activities. It outlined the different spaces that might be available to hire and asked about the different bookings people might make, for business or social events. There were 57 responses to the survey.

When people were asked what kind of events they would like to see in the new venue, the top three responses were: music events 30%; meet and greets (for example with authors or artists) 52%; and museum late-night openings with special activities 43%.

Respondents were asked what they would be prepared to pay for events and activities if they included materials or offered exclusive access. 54% said they would be willing to pay £5 or £10 for such activities, with 29% saying £2 or £3, and 25% willing to pay up to £20.

The survey asked what respondents might consider hiring spaces at the new venue for. 55% said private parties, 43% said community group meetings and AGM’s, and 32% said weddings.

When asked to rank topics for temporary exhibitions, the result was as follows, with 1 being the most popular and 8 the least: 1 Archaeology and history; 2 Science and nature; 3 Noteworthy Individuals; 4 Photography; 5 Art & Sculpture (traditional / old masters); 6 Costume; 7 Movie and media related displays; 8 Contemporary Art & Sculpture

When they were asked what they might be willing to pay to visit these temporary exhibitions, 49% said £5-10, 33% said £5, and 14% said £10-15.

If discounts were to be offered, most respondents wanted to see these prioritised as follows: Aberdeenshire residents 73%; Family / group discounts 56%; Senior Citizens 50%; Students / Young people 38%; LLA membership 34%; Low Income 30%; Annual pass 27%; Friends’ organisation pass 10%.

Comments received included: requests to loan back important objects that are in other museums’ collections, with the Book of Deer being mentioned multiple times; securing blockbuster touring exhibitions with natural history being a favourite theme; and creating temporary exhibitions covering various aspects of Aberdeenshire history and heritage.

We asked, You said, We will

A community gallery within the new venue will allow for regular changing exhibitions either of material from within the council collections or material that is co-curated with local communities. A touring exhibition gallery will allow larger ‘blockbuster’ style exhibitions to be programmed and, when not in use for exhibitions, the space will be utilised for events and available for hire. Planning for the touring / temporary exhibitions schedule will take account of the themes requested through the engagement process and pricing (along with discount options) will reflect the information received. Discussions are commencing with other museums to borrow items for display and while specific pieces cannot be guaranteed, the loan requests will reflect a broad range of material types and geographic areas across the shire.

The museum survey asked what sort of collections should be displayed and what stories should be told in the new galleries. It asked respondents what elements were important within the galleries (such as interactives or audio and video) and asked what digital resources visitors might find useful before, during and after a visit. There were 204 responses to the survey.

When asked to rank the topics that could be covered in the new museum, the result was as follows, with 1 being the most popular and 9 the least: 1 Scottish history; 2 Inspiring people; 3 Archaeology; 4 Natural history; 5 Art; 6 Archives; 7 World history; 8 Regional summaries; 9 Conservation and museum practice

In terms of the types of objects that could be displayed in the galleries connected to these topics, the top three choices were: photos (77%), archives (49%) and domestic and social history items (48%). In a close, joint 4th, position were costume and archaeological objects at 42%.

When asked what items they would like to see brought in on loan to the new museum, respondents said (in order): objects that are from Aberdeenshire but have ended up in collections elsewhere; objects from elsewhere that tell important stories connected to Aberdeenshire; objects in private collections that are rarely seen; and highly unusual and rare objects but with no connection to Aberdeenshire.

Respondents stated that the 5 most important things for the interpretation (in order) were: that there was suitable interpretation for children as well as adults; that display cases and galleries changed regularly; that there was audio and video; that there were interactives within the galleries; and that the interpretation openly discussed difficult issues such as colonialism and climate change.

The most popular digital resources that respondents said they would like to see developed for the new museum were: touchscreen content in the galleries (76%); 3D models to play with and digital projections (joint at 50%); and online educational resources for pre and post visit (42%).

Comments received included: a range of suggestions for objects and stories to be included in the new interpretation; details of groups and organisations to contact for object loans or information that could be used in the new displays; and suggestions for interactives and activities in the galleries. Key themes for displays emerged from the comments as maritime related material (fishing, whaling, Arctic exploration etc), the Keiths, Jacobites, international trade and travel (from and to the shire), material related to religion and belief, and material related to the Picts.

We asked, You said, We will

The interpretive planning for the new museum includes a specific gallery for

Peterhead, to showcase the town’s stories. Shire-wide themes will include: maritime

related material; key figures from across the shire; music, literature and song

(including a focus on Doric material); a range of key historical periods (Pictish,

medieval and Jacobite amongst others) and world cultural material brought to the

shire such as Inuit artefacts acquired during whaling voyages and Arctic expeditions.

There will be specific galleries for the photographic and art collections that can be

regularly changed by the curatorial team and there will also be a community gallery

that will allow co-curation opportunities for local community groups.

Aberdeenshire Council’s contractors MTM Construction have started work on refurbishing the public realm at Clerkhill Shopping Precinct.

The works started on 19^th August are expected to take eight weeks in total.

Following engagement with the local community, the works will focus on improving the surfaces and removing elements like the cobbles from the area in front of the shops, known as the public realm. Bike stands and benches will also be added, to improve safety and provide places for people to rest and catch up with neighbours.

Maintaining access to the businesses throughout the work is challenging. The contractors are working hard on this and will be working in stages along the precinct to reduce disruption.

The online Engage survey asked respondents what they would be likely to use the new library for, with a range of options offered, including borrowing books, studying, attending specific events, and scheduling meetings. It also asked what kind of events visitors would like to see in the new facility, to help plan an events and outreach programme, and what users might be willing to pay for some events, if additional materials or experiences were to be offered. There were 89 responses to the survey.

When asked what their top 3 uses for the library would be, 85% said “borrowing items”, 55% said “events such as Bookbug, Knit & Natter, or a local book group”, and 47% said “events such as author talks and knowledge exchange transfer”. The specific events which the largest number of respondents wanted to see running in the new library were: author talks and events; Bookbug sessions; and children’s craft sessions.

Respondents were asked what sort of price they might be willing to pay for events and activities where materials were provided or exclusive access given and 47% said they were willing to pay £2.00, 38% said they would pay £5.00 and 31% said they would pay £3.00.

Comments received included: suggestions for activities that could continue / be started at the new venue; concerns about the library moving due to access and parking issues; and requests for longer opening hours.

We asked, You said, We will

Work will take place to develop an events and outreach programme for the reopening, influenced by the information received from the survey. Space will be allocated within the new venue to allow a variety of uses by different groups at any one time, such as private study, reading, socialising or a specific event. An outside area will be included for reading and public events.

The shop at the new venue will cater for visitors to the museum, library and temporary exhibitions gallery on site. The survey asked respondents what sort of products they might buy in the shop and what sort of price they would consider paying for these products. It also asked what sort of discounts visitors might be interested in seeing offered in the shop. There were 24 responses to the retail survey.

When asked about the top 5 items they might purchase in the shop: 75% of respondents said they would be interested in buying locally made arts & crafts; 50% said they would buy special occasion gifts for family & friends; 46% said they would be interested equally in souvenirs related to temporary exhibitions and reproductions of photographs and art in the museum collections; 33% said cards and postcards; and there was a tie in fifth place, with 29% of respondents saying books, museum and library branded items, and homeware.

When asked what amount they might consider spending in the shop, the top three responses were: £5-10; £10-20; and up to £5. When asked what discount schemes they might be interested in the top three responses were: discounts for Aberdeenshire residents (91%); Live Life Aberdeenshire membership discount (60%); annual passes at a reduced rate (30%).

Comments received included: concern at competition for other local shops; using the shop to showcase the work of Aberdeenshire artists, writers and musicians; using the Live Life Aberdeenshire app to administer discount schemes; and an offer from a local supplier interested in selling their material through the shop.

We asked, You said, We will

Work has yet to begin on purchasing retail stock for the shop, but the community wish for local producers to be showcased will be taken on board so we can incorporate locally produced stock where possible. A range of items, based on the museum and library collections, will be explored, and price points for goods will reflect the responses received.

The catering survey covered both the proposed café and restaurant offers, and asked respondents about when they might visit (for coffees, lunches or dinners) and whether they would be likely to book the venues for events. The survey asked what was most important in terms of the fit-out of both spaces, and the catering offer that was available in each of them. There were 38 responses to the café survey and 36 to the restaurant survey.

In response to when they would use the café, 81% said for brunch or coffee; 76% for lunch without a visit to the museum or library; and 65% for lunch as part of a visit to the museum or library. When asked what was most important about the café food and drink offer, the three top responses were that it: promote the best of regional produce; offer affordable prices and value for money; and offer a variety of food that meets different dietary requirements. Interestingly, these were the same three areas highlighted in relation to the question on the restaurant’s food and drink offer as well.

In response to what matters most for the café space the three top answers were: a garden terrace (66%); quality furniture and tableware (55%); and table service (50%). In comparison, when this question was posed about the restaurant, the three top responses were: views over Peterhead (75%); high quality furniture and tableware (61%); and outside space (56%).

When asked about how they might frequent the restaurant, respondents replied: for lunch and dinner without visiting the library or museum (92%); for lunch or dinner as part of a visit to the library or museum (78%); and for group dining, without private use (50%).

Comments received about the restaurant and café included: concern at competition for other local cafes and restaurants; a request to careful consider acoustics in the designs so that neither the café nor the restaurant was too noisy for visitors; the need for physical accessibility to accommodate prams and wheelchairs; the issues that might be posed by seagulls for outside areas; and the suggestion that the spaces could also be used for music and spoken word events.

We asked, You said, We will

All spaces within the building, including the café and restaurant will be fully accessible, and there will be a Changing Places toilet on site as well. The issue of acoustics will be considered by the design team, and operational measures to limit any issues with seagulls on site will also be considered. The use of the catering spaces for events will be at the discretion of the independent hospitality operators, but there are a series of other spaces within the building under the full control of the council that will be available for public / community events and functions use.

Respondents were asked how they might use the garden, for sitting quietly perhaps, or for attending events. They were asked what sort of plants and features they wanted to see in the garden, related to how they might use it; whether it should be garden ground for community use or landscaped areas for picnics for example. There were 54 responses to the walled garden survey.

When asked about the top 3 reasons they might use the garden: 81% of respondents said for quiet, reflective time; 60% said for picnics; and 30% of respondents said for events. When respondents were asked what they considered the top three features for inclusion in the garden they said: benches; outdoor seats for the café; and a quiet zone for contemplation.

In terms of what people felt was most important for landscaping the garden, the top three responses were: wildflowers, grasses and biodiverse areas (59%); sheltered and covered areas (55%); and a sensory area (43%).

Comments received included: a desire for murals and sculptures; consideration for allowing dogs into the space; concerns about seagulls and wind affecting use of the outdoor areas; support for sensory and contemplative spaces; and concerns around security and vandalism.

We asked, You said, We will

Landscaping proposals for the garden are taking account of the multi-use requests from the wider community; a small outdoor exhibition area will be included as will productive trees and beds for community growing and harvesting. There will be a mix of different ground surfaces and smaller spaces with a range of seating to encourage different uses, from picnics to quiet contemplation or reading. Ornamental planting will be carefully chosen to both survive the coastal location, but also increase opportunities for biodiversity. The garden will be fully accessible, enable easy movement between the different functional spaces, and sensory planting will be considered within the overall scheme.

Residents across the region are being encouraged to get engaged with the development of a new Museum of Aberdeenshire. The ambitious Aberdeenshire Council project is being supported with £20million from the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund which focuses on the development of a Museum of Aberdeenshire and a new Peterhead Library centred around the vacant Arbuthnot House.

It will see the B-listed Arbuthnot House sensitively restored and linked to a striking new extension to house both the town’s library and a new museum showcasing Aberdeenshire’s extensive heritage collections and artwork. Live Life Aberdeenshire, who will be operating the new museum, are keen to hear from residents and communities across the shire about what stories and objects could be included in the new development.

New state-of-the-art galleries will offer much more space to display many of the area’s treasures from Aberdeenshire Museums Collection that are currently in storage. From natural history to archaeology, social history to art, many more items unique to the area will be on display than ever before. There will be space to tell old and new stories and better represent the ever-changing people and places that have made, and continue to make, Aberdeenshire what it is today.

An online survey is seeking ideas on the museum, potential exhibitions, displays and activities, catering and retail offers at https://engage.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/arbuthnot-house-museum

You can ask for a paper copy at any Live Life Aberdeenshire library.

Life Life Aberdeenshire staff will also be in-person at the following locations this month and in May with more information about the project and are keen to hear from local residents:

• Deveron Centre, Banff – Monday, April 29 – 12noon-5pm
• Fraserburgh Community & Sports Centre – Tuesday, May 14 – 12noon-5pm
• Ellon Library – Thursday, May 2 - 12noon-5pm
• Inverurie Library – Wednesday, May 1 - 12noon-5pm
• Stonehaven Library – Friday, May 17 - 12noon-5pm
• Banchory Library– Monday, May 20 - 12noon-4.30pm
• Huntly Library– Friday, May 10 - 10am-2pm

The new attraction will be the council’s first shire-wide museum for the area and will provide many opportunities for local communities from across Aberdeenshire to learn about the heritage of their area as well as offering visitors a state-of-the-art environment in which to absorb the full breadth and richness of the region’s stories and past. Multi-purpose and workshop spaces will support participation and learning. A new dedicated exhibition gallery will accommodate both temporary and touring national exhibitions and also act as a functions space for individual and corporate events

There will be a new café with an outside terrace, and a small retail area linked to the museum. Purpose-built galleries will allow hundreds more objects to be displayed, supported by creative interpretation including music, interactives, Doric and film. The council’s Museums team will be able to change the displays on a regular basis and work with community groups to co-curate displays and exhibitions. There will be a gallery to focus on the coastal town of Peterhead, with many other spaces showcasing objects, material and stories from across Aberdeenshire. The existing Arbuthnot Museum and Library building on the town’s St Peter Street will be restored and refurbished.

Aberdeenshire Council Leader Cllr Gillian Owen said: “I am delighted to see this project progressing and I am impressed by the initial designs for the Museum of Aberdeenshire. This will be a museum for the whole shire, showcasing the inspiring individuals, sensational stories and amazing artefacts that make the north-east unique. Through the Levelling Up funding we will be able to enhance, develop and future-proof our tourist and cultural offerings in the north of the region which will have tremendous benefits for the wider economy of Aberdeenshire.”

Depute Leader Cllr Anne Stirling added: “This innovative and very ambitious project in the very heart of Peterhead town centre will support the north-east economy through the enhancement of the tourism offering across Aberdeenshire and provide opportunities for businesses which are to be greatly welcomed. I would encourage communities across Aberdeenshire to get involved in our engagement programme and let us know what’s important for you in terms of our rich cultural and heritage so we can make this new regional museum a real jewel in the north-east crown.”