Pier ArtsCentre

The Pier Arts Centre occupies a cluster of harbourside buildings on Victoria Street in Stromness, built around a collection of 20th-century British art donated to the town by writer and philanthropist Margaret Gardiner. It opened in 1979 and operates as an independent Scottish charity (SC014815) and Accredited Museum rather than a council-run attraction. The permanent collection includes work by Barbara Hepworth, Ben Nicholson and Alfred Wallis, alongside contemporary pieces by Eva Rothschild, Sean Scully and Olafur Eliasson. A 2007 redevelopment added a new gallery wing set over the pier itself to the original merchant buildings, and the centre runs a changing programme of touring and locally curated exhibitions plus an education and outreach programme. It also holds a library and archive open to researchers. Admission is free, and VisitScotland rates it a 5-star attraction. It opens Tuesday to Saturday, 10:30am to 5pm.