Tarbat Discovery Centre
The Tarbat Discovery Centre hosts a wide array of events for adults and young people: monthly lectures by noted experts and book authors, activities for the launch of new exhibits, demonstrations and craft workshops, and holiday celebrations.
What's On
Upcoming Events
The Tarbat Discovery Centre offers events such as lectures, discussions with noted experts, and activities for children and adults throughout the year, held at the Centre or Portmahomack’s Carnegie Hall. Many are free of charge but often require a ticket for admission.
Click on ‘Learn More‘ to see the preliminary programme for the next 12 months. It will be updated as schedules are confirmed. Please check back frequently!
Stories on Skins
Stories on Skins, sponsored by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, uses tools and techniques from Pictish times to create four magnificent folio pages in the style of insular manuscripts, inspired by the Book of Kells. Led by the vision and skill of Thomas Keyes, the exhibition at the Tarbat Discovery Centre contains multiple features: the three completed folio pages, a desk that scribes would have used at the monastery during Pictish times, tools found during the archaeological dig, materials used and the process followed for making pigments, and the geometry underlying the folios—all with interpretive panels in English and Gaelic.
Stories on Skins also takes the project and the Discovery Centre out into schools and communities with craft workshops, storytelling based on the legends from origin tales and myths, and events such as festival celebrations. Check the Events tab on this website for more information.
Family Activities
The Tarbat Discovery Centre is fun for the whole family – from dressing up to treasure hunts, there are lots of things to do and learn! Our Stones and Bones pit lets you try out what it’s like to be an archaeologist and dig through the sand to find hidden objects. How many treasures can you find?
During the season we have a number of free self-guided activities available for families, and we also host seasonal activities and events aimed at families with children of all ages. Ask our volunteers about our Lucky Dip box! We are always looking for ways to enhance our visitors’ experiences. Our new Volunteer Activity Group will be developing activities throughout 2024 to enhance our visitors’ experiences, so check for updates at Upcoming Events.
25th Anniversary
We are preparing to celebrate our 25th anniversary! The Tarbat Discovery Centre was opened by the then-HRH Prince Charles in September 1999, and we are planning a three-part celebration: a loan of the Tarbat Hoard from National Museums Scotland, a birthday weekend organised by our volunteers, and a season of talks and activities through 2025.
- The Tarbat Hoard comprises silver objects found on site that are coming home for the first time since their discovery. They will be on display from late June until October 2024.
- The birthday weekend will feature special exhibitions, visitor activities, and a reception.
- The 2025 events will celebrate the Centre’s past, present, and future, with talks and workshops by experts, museum professionals, artists, and writers.
During 2024, the Tarbat Discovery Centre welcomed Dan Hansen as our first Scholar in Residence. At the time, Dan was completing his PhD in anthropology and archaeology at the University of Chicago in the United States, studying the role of Pictish identity. While at the Centre he conducted interviews with staff and visitors at heritage sites, museums, and events in Scotland to understand their perceptions of the Picts. We invited visitors to the Discovery Centre to talk with him about their interests and his work.