A brightly coloured bus filled with bold ideas is rolling back into Orkney this May.
The Travelling Gallery, Scotland’s long-standing mobile contemporary art space, is once again visiting the islands with the support of Orkney Islands Council and Northlink Ferries.
Since 1978, the Travelling Gallery has journeyed to communities across the country, offering an accessible and engaging experience of contemporary art.
This year’s exhibition is led by artists Rachel McBrinn and Alison Scott, whose collaborative work takes root in the decommissioned glasshouses of St Andrews Botanic Garden.
Their work is the result of a residency at the gardens, where they explored the ideologies and histories tied up in these once-glorious greenhouses.
Working in film, text, and with archives, the pair unpack how glasshouses have symbolised power, preservation, and privilege.
At the heart of the exhibition is the film After Glass, a visually layered narrative that reflects on colonialism, patriarchy, and the silent politics of display and erasure.
Visitors can step aboard the Travelling Gallery and experience this powerful exhibition at several Orkney locations this May.
On Tuesday 6 May, the bus will be at Papdale Primary School.
Wednesday 7 May sees a stop at Stromness Academy, with public entry from 3.15 to 4.15pm.
Thursday 8 May brings the exhibition to Westray Junior High School, open to the public from 3.30 to 4.30pm.
The public highlight comes on Friday 9 May, with a full open day in Kirkwall’s Broad Street Car Park from 10am to 4pm.
Admission is free and all are welcome during public opening times.
Emma Gee, Arts Officer at Orkney Islands Council, says the project is a cherished fixture in the islands’ cultural calendar.
She notes that its presence in schools and communities continues to inspire and connect, making contemporary art part of everyday life.
The exhibition has already visited schools and art centres in the Highlands, Angus, Aberdeen, Edinburgh and more, bringing art to doorsteps in a uniquely Scottish way.
Rachel McBrinn’s work often centres on site-specific research and themes of conservation and planning.
Alison Scott brings a strong voice on environmental politics and collaborative methods, often weaving writing, sound, and film into her practice.
Together they previously produced Congenial Soils and Favourable Situations, a 2022 project exploring coastal ecology and climate.
The exhibition is supported by Creative Scotland’s Open Fund and draws on archival contributions from the National Library of Scotland’s Moving Image Archive.
The Travelling Gallery bus is fully accessible, offering a hearing loop, ramp access, and large print interpretation materials.
More details and future tour dates can be found at www.travellinggallery.com
