RESCUE MISSION UPDATE - MARCH 2011

Tony Watson, Chairman of the Trust, has announced that thanks entirely to the generosity of its individual supporters the trust has managed to raise to date just in excess of £30,000.  These funds will ensure that the Centre can remain open for at least another year but this is merely a temporary reprieve and the problems of finding a long-term solution remain – this money will buy the museum some time to allow it to continue this work.

Highland Council has now announced it's budget proposals and these include a 15% reduction in revenue funding in our sector.  This will not now be introduced until 2012 so funding will remain at the existing level until then.  Whilst not ideal this outcome is probably 'best case scenario' and at least gives the Centre some security and will allow time for us to plan ahead for the next couple of years.

However the problems of the longer term viability of the Centre still remain and we still require everyone with the Centre's interests at heart to remain focused on it's survival and to campaign on our behalf.

Please keep donating and signing our petition.

To all those who have helped us in any way over the past very difficult year, our grateful thanks.

Our exceptionally beautiful centre, made to commemorate and celebrate the discovery of Scotland’s first Pictish monastery, is situated in the restored church of St Colman, a beloved landmark over-looking the Dornoch Firth on the Tarbat Peninsula in northern Scotland.  The first small Christian community arrived here in the late 6th century probably from Iona, and the monastery was perhaps founded by St Columba himself at the culmination of his long journey up the Great Glen into the heart of the Pictish nation.

Inside the church are displayed many of the finds from the monastic excavation - including the debris left behind by monks making parchment and church vessels, and substantial fragments of a range of sculpture, including cross-slabs, church furniture, shrines and gravemarkers, all necessary for the life of a major monastery.  We have entertained and moved thousands of visitors in the ten years since the museum was opened by Prince Charles. Now we are asking the many friends we have made to help us weather the current storm.

These are difficult times for small museums. We, in particular, are situated away from centres of population in a lovely but remote spot at the far end of a one-way road to Tarbat Ness. So although our visitors often return, our earnings will never be huge.  Poor returns from tourism and a reduction in subsidies have resulted in us incurring an increasing shortfall over the past three years, and this has more or less wiped out our reserves.  We were created with the help of grants from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the National Museums of Scotland, Historic Scotland and Highland Council. These agencies have supported us magnificently, but now we are on our own and dependent on our visitors, friends and well-wishers. In this climate only the toughest will survive.

Our chairman has been in lengthy discussions with many organisations, including The Scottish Government, Highland Council, Highlands & Islands Enterprise, Museums Galleries Scotland and the Heritage Lottery Fund, but all they are able to offer are expressions of sympathy.  The situation has its paradoxes. Historic Scotland are currently scheduling the site at Tarbat and have produced a document with an expansive description of just why it is important, but neither they nor The National Museums (being the owners of the collection) under current regulations appear able to support its future. We are excluded from funding under the Scottish Recognition Scheme for independent museums since we do not own our collection.

We are  seeking either single donations or an annual deed of covenant from a new group of supporters or stakeholders, whom we entitle PATRONS. Patrons are asked to make a donation over a five-year covenant using the Gift Aid form below. Patrons will be listed in the Church, along with, if desired, the name of a person they would like to have associated with their donation. In addition, all patrons will receive an annual report.

Only the display of its artefacts, in our building overlooking the site, can bring the monastery at Portmahomack and its role within the striking landscape of the Tarbat Peninsula vividly to life. Ongoing specialist analysis of many other categories of finds are already producing exciting new discoveries which will further enrich interpretation at a unique level of detail. We see our future as still very much focused on the display of discoveries.  We ask you to helpus, through a donation at this difficult time to fulfil this objective - maintaining the museum, and the significance of the site, as central to a new understanding of Scotland’s early medieval heritage.

According to a new report commissioned by the Heritage Lottery Fund, Heritage Tourism is now the 5th largest industry in Britain contributing £20bn to the UK economy.

Download the full HLF report:  Investing in success: Heritage and the UK tourism economy