Mather & Co, a leading visitor attraction and exhibition design consultancy, is designing the exhibitions for Inverness Castle, due to open to visitors in 2025.
Progress on the project to transform this heritage site was revealed on Thursday 27 April 2023. This shared how the site, previously a prison and courtroom, will be regenerated to become a visitor attraction with the potential to attract tourists from local, national and international audiences.
The visitor route will begin in the gardens, which overlook the River Ness. Here, the planting, landscaping, and interpretation scheme has been inspired by Gaelic language and culture and offers a relaxing start to a visit.
Next, visitors will encounter an experience designed by Mather & Co located in the South Tower. Innovative digital technologies and in-person interpreters will describe the landscape (cruth-tìre), heritage (dualchas), culture (cultar) and community (coimhearsnachd) of the Scottish Highlands. The finale of the experience is a 360-degree immersive experience which celebrates the Highland’s remarkable landscape using audio and digital techniques.
This experience draws from stories which have been crowdsourced from across the area and weave fantastic tales of the past, present, and future of the Highlands.
Connecting through music
In the North Tower, the Highland Music Experience and Bar will celebrate the region’s music, food and drink. This experience will explore how bands and musicians have been pivotal in shaping the culture of the Highlands. The inaugural exhibition will focus on the music and stories of Runrig, who celebrate their 50th anniversary on 28 April.
Calum Macdonald, who was a founding member of Runrig together with his brother Rory, says: “When we started playing together as Runrig in Skye all these years ago I wouldn’t have imagined that we’d reach this 50-year milestone. It’s exciting to be involved with the Inverness Castle Experience, and the new exhibition will mean people who enjoy our music will have a way to come together to share their own memories of their connection with the band over the years.”
Fergus Ewing, MSP, co-chair of the Inverness Castle Delivery Group, says: “I am delighted that we’ve reached this important milestone in creating a visitor attraction that will be a gateway for Highland tourism and an international attraction that will be a must-see!”
“The details released today illustrate the creativity and innovation that visitors to the Inverness Castle Experience can enjoy when it opens in 2025,” Ewing continues, “We want to make sure that everyone visiting the Inverness Castle Experience has a brilliant time – and that they come back for more on a future visit!”
“It is important that we ensure that every visitor has a first-rate experience, inspiring them to venture to other parts of the Highlands, connecting with people and places across the area, and uncovering their own stories as they travel.”
“We are thrilled to have Runrig members Calum and Rory MacDonald here with us today on the eve of the 50th anniversary of the band to announce that their work will feature in a new exhibition in the North Tower.”
Community art
The North Tower will also house the Tapestry of the Highlands and Islands. This contemporary textile artwork is being created by local communities as part of the Spirit of the Highlands and Islands project, a partnership project between The Highland Council and High Life Highland, which is being delivered in collaboration with VisitScotland.
Cllr Ian Brown, leader of Inverness City and Area and co-chair of the Inverness Castle Project Delivery Group, says: “This is an important step in our progress towards the opening of the Castle as a visitor attraction in 2025 – and so exciting to recognise our own cultural stars too, with the contribution of Runrig being recognised in the opening exhibition for the Highland Music Experience!”
“The immersive approach designed by Mather & Co will ensure visitors have a world-class experience at the new attraction, as they are inspired to explore the Highlands to find and create their own stories.”
“Visitors will connect to Highland stories through a series of themed immersive rooms, where they can walk through forests, gather round the fire for story time, and witness iconic moments of Highland history.” Brown adds, “As well as the Runrig exhibition in the North Tower at opening, visitors will be able to visit the Tapestry of the Highlands and Islands – and see the stitches they or their families and friends may have contributed to this community project.”
“The Inverness Castle Experience is a very exciting addition to the tourism offer for the Highlands and Scotland as a whole.”
Driving investment and international tourism
Neil Gray, Scottish Government well-being economy secretary, comments: “I welcome further progress in designing an Inverness Castle experience which can attract tourists from around the world and generate jobs and investment for Inverness and the surrounding area.”
UK Government minister for Scotland Malcolm Offord says: “It’s great to see Inverness Castle is on the High Road to success, with the design update marking another step closer to the site being open to the public.”
“Its transformation will create a must-see attraction in keeping with its heritage that will help to boost the region’s economy and bring visitors and tourists to the local area.” Offord continues, “The UK Government is supporting the Castle through its investment in the project as part of the £53.1 million Inverness and Highland City-Region Deal.”
Supporting sustainable growth
The Scottish and UK Governments, The Highland Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, and other supporters have funded £30m of investment for the Inverness Castle project.
The development is part of the Inverness and Highland City-Region Deal which is working to create sustainable regional economic growth. This scheme is supported by up to £315m in funding from the UK and Scottish governments, The Highland Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and University of the Highlands and Islands.
Mather & Co recently announced that it has been selected to create a new exhibition for Sealladh Hiort – St Kilda Viewpoint in North Uist, part of Scotland’s Outer Hebrides.
