The Pier Arts Centre is planning to reopen in time for Stromness Shopping Week, the biggest social event on the town’s calendar.

A £4.5 redevelopment to refurbish and extend the centre is nearing completion, with staff looking forward to welcoming visitors during the busy summer season.

Part of the centre will be open early next month – as the ticket office for this year’s Orkney Folk Festival.

“This will be the 25th festival and with what promises to be a huge demand for tickets, we were delighted to offer our facilities,” said Neil Firth, director of the Pier Arts Centre.

From Wednesday May 2, folk festival tickets will be available on-line, over the phone or by calling in at the centre.
“As the event has grown over the years, this has become a big operation for us,” said Johnny Mowat, one of the founders of the festival.

“The Pier’s location in the heart of Stromness makes it an ideal location for our ticket office. We’re delighted they’re supporting us and hope we can continue this collaboration in future years as well.”

The date for the Pier’s reopening as an arts centre will be announced once some final work on the redevelopment project is completed.

“A Glasgow based specialist sub-contractor went into liquidation earlier this year and that’s caused some last minute problems for us,” said Mr Firth.

“Our main contractor, Casey Construction, have more than risen to the challenge and are putting in sterling efforts to ensure this doesn’t knock us too far off course.

“Our aim is to be open before Stromness Shopping Week in July – we’ll give an exact date as soon as this final work is finished.”