The Pier Arts Centre is one of only three projects in Scotland to win a UK Civic Trust Award. A total of thirty Awards were announced at a glittering ceremony in Newcastle last week. The annual event, which attracted over 400 entrants, aims to encourage projects that are culturally, socially or economically beneficial, and make an outstanding contribution to the quality and appearance of the environment. The winners receive a plaque for permanent display in their buildings.
Speaking of the success of The Pier Arts Centre in Stromness, the Civic Trust judges said this was “A strikingly modern restoration, refurbishment and new build scheme which provides a much visited arts centre. Despite being in a conservation area of outstanding merit, the design sits comfortably with the surrounding buildings. The uncompromisingly contemporary choice of materials fit surprisingly well with the local style of stone houses and boat sheds. In particular, the dark zinc cladding of the Arts Centre compliments the slate roofs of the adjoining properties.

It is clear that consideration has been given to the access requirements of both staff and visitors. This is a mature work that displays great inventiveness and shies away from simply providing a pastiche intervention...”

Chair of the board of the Pier Arts Centre Bob Shaw said of winning the award “We are clearly thrilled with the news of this award. The quality of Reiach and Hall’s architectural scheme has already won the Andrew Doolan Award for the Best Building in Scotland and this Civic Trust Award will help bring the centre to the attention of an even wider audience. The response of the general public to the redevelopment of the Pier Arts Centre has been tremendous and I am very pleased that the critics agree. We have always believed that we had something of national and even international significance and it is great to receive this recognition.”
Chair of the Civic Trust, Philip Kolvin said: “This year's winners include private houses and public spaces, museums, schools and public art. We are proud that the Awards encompass such a wide range of schemes, and allow commercial developments to compete with community projects in providing better places for people.”
The architects for the Pier Arts Centre project, Edinburgh based Reiach and Hall are delighted that the centre has won this prestigious award. Project Architect David Anderson commented following the award ceremony “ We are really delighted. This award not only recognises the efforts of everyone involved from design team and building contractor, through to the Pier Arts Centre board and staff but provides a further independent endorsement of the success of the project."

This is not the first time the Pier has gained an accolade from the Civic Trust. In 1980 Levitt Bernstein, the architects of the original Pier Arts Centre conversion, won a commendation from the Civic Trust for their sensitive refurbishment of the listed Pier Gallery buildings.

The news of the Piers’ success in gaining a Civic Trust Award comes at a time when the board and staff of the centre await the outcome of The Art Fund Prize 2008. The prestigious £100,000 prize rewards the best museum and gallery in the UK for its imagination, creativity and originality. The judges have already visited the centre and the shortlist for the prize will be announced in early April with the eventual winner being crowned on May 22 at a ceremony at the Royal Institute of British Architects in London during Museum and Galleries Month. Andrew Parkinson, Exhibitions Officer at the Pier Arts Centre added “There is still time to register support for the Pier’s nomination on the Art Fund Prize website. The judges have already commented on the enthusiasm being shown by the public for the Pier and I would encourage everyone in Orkney and beyond to add their views.” To register your support for the Pier Arts Centre go to www.artfundprize.org.