Museum in Thurso achieves full accreditation

Caithness Horizons in Thurso has secured Museum Accreditation for the next three years. The award is made by Museums Galleries Scotland and Arts Council England under the 2011 Museum Accreditation Standard.

Caithness Horizons houses a permanent collection that tells the story of the county of Caithness from 416 million years ago to the present day including the Picts, the Vikings, and the history of the Dounreay Nuclear Research Establishment. 

The Museum Accreditation Standard sets nationally agreed standards for museums in the UK. There are currently just under 1,800 museums participating in the scheme, demonstrating their commitment to managing collections effectively for the enjoyment and benefit of their users.

Landward Caithness Highland Councillor, Willie Mackay, a Director with Caithness Horizons, said: "This is a fantastic accreditation for Caithness Horizons and confirms just how much an asset the museum is to the town of Thurso, the whole of Caithness and the entire Highland Council area. 

“It’s a terrific tourist attraction and a lot of hard work by the staff and committee has gone in towards its well-deserved success.”

To celebrate the opening of its new Dounreay Materials Testing Reactor (DMTR) exhibition on Caithness Horizons is offering free, family friendly workshop sessions looking at the life of Dounreay and the Materials Testing Reactor.  Children aged from 7 upwards will get the opportunity to make their own Nuclear Survival Kit and some glow in the dark jelly.  In the evening, we’ll be dancing the night away to The Caithness Big Band with 1950’s inspired refreshments.   Children’s events require pre booking.  The new DMTR exhibition is open to the general public from Sunday 17th May. The Museum is open between 11am-4pm on Sunday’s until the end of September.