Hidden Scotland
Sign in
Orkney

Pier Arts Centre

A free gallery in Stromness, with Margaret Gardiner's collection of Hepworth, Nicholson and Wallis; open Tuesday to Saturday.

Welcome

The Pier Arts Centre stands on Victoria Street in Stromness, in an old quayside building and an award-winning new one built out on one of the piers of the harbour town.

It was established in 1979 to give a home to the collection of British art that the author and peace activist Margaret Gardiner gave to be held in trust for Orkney.

Small as it is, the collection is regarded as one of the finest of its period in the UK: Barbara Hepworth, Ben Nicholson and Alfred Wallis, later work by Sean Scully, Eva Rothschild and Olafur Eliasson, and Orkney artists including Stanley Cursiter and Sylvia Wishart. The centre reopened in 2007 after a major redevelopment, is a partner of Tate and has changing exhibitions and events all year. Entry is free, and it is open Tuesday to Saturday, 10.30am to 5pm, all year. There is a lift to every floor, and the ferry terminal is a short walk away.

The Daily

Arrives at 5am every day.

A free morning email to see what’s on this week, catch up on what’s happening in Scotland and find somewhere new to go.

The Daily for 31 October, from Scotland with love. A ring of standing stones set among mist and autumn birch
A short drive awayUnstan CairnA 5,000-year-old chambered tomb on the bank of the Loch of Stenness, entered along a low passage; free and open all year.6 min by roadSee itUnstan Chambered Cairn, a grassy mound with its low entrance and an information board, the loch beyond.
Before you go

Free, open Tuesday to Saturday all year, with a lift to every floor.

Where
The Pier Arts Centre, Victoria Street, Stromness, Orkney KW16 3AA.
Open
Tuesday to Saturday, 10.30am to 5pm, all year.
Price
Free.
Parking
There is no car park at the centre; parking can be found on Ferry Road, about 500 metres from the gallery.
Getting there
A short walk from the Stromness ferry terminal, which is also the nearest bus stop. NorthLink sails from Scrabster to Stromness in about 90 minutes.
Access
The door does not open automatically: knock at the glass door and staff will help. A lift serves every floor, with accessible toilets on each floor. Call 01856 850209 or email info@pierartscentre.com ahead if you have access needs.
Booking
No ticket is needed. The centre prefers advance notice of large group visits: 01856 850209.

Opening hours

Monday
Closed
Tuesday
10.30am–5pm
Wednesday
10.30am–5pm
Thursday
10.30am–5pm
Friday
10.30am–5pm
Saturday
10.30am–5pm
Sunday
Closed

Been here? Tell others what you know, and the best go on this page with your name.

Add your review
Where it is

Victoria Street, Stromness, KW16 3AA, a short walk from the Stromness ferry terminal.

Close byIn Stromness.
  1. Standing Stones of StennessStanding Stones of StennessFour great standing stones of what may be the earliest henge monument in the British Isles, about 5,000 years old; free and open all year.5 miles 8 min by road
  2. Maeshowe, a great grassy mound in green fields under a grey sky.Maeshowe Chambered CairnThe finest Neolithic building to survive in north-west Europe, lit by the midwinter sunset and carved with Norse runes; by guided tour.6 miles 9 min by road
  3. Ring of BrodgarRing of BrodgarA Neolithic stone circle of 36 standing stones on a strip of land between two lochs; free to visit and open all year.6 miles 10 min by road
  4. The layered sandstone cliffs of Yesnaby dropping into a calm dark sea, lit by low sun.YesnabyTall sandstone cliffs on the west coast of the Orkney Mainland, with a clifftop path to the arched sea stack of Yesnaby Castle.6 miles 14 min by road
  5. Skara BraeSkara BraeA 5,000-year-old village on the Bay of Skaill, the best-preserved Neolithic settlement in Western Europe, with its stone furniture in place.8 miles 15 min by road
Directions
Unstan Chambered Cairn, a grassy mound with its low entrance and an information board, the loch beyond.AttractionsUnstan Cairn3.3 miles
The Ring of Brodgar's standing stones beside Loch Harray, a short walk from the Ness of Brodgar.AttractionsNess of Brodgar5.6 miles
Fursbreck Pottery, a stone cottage with a red-edged roof and a garden of pots and benches, Harray.AttractionsThe Harray Potter9.5 miles
Musicians play fiddles and double bass on a ship's wooden deckAttractionsOrkney Festivals11 miles
Green aurora swirling across a starry sky above a snow-covered peakAttractionsThe Aurora Borealis in Orkney11 miles

Recommend to a friend

Hidden Scotland, the magazine

Scotland, in print.

We want to show you the best that Scotland has to offer. The makers and the creatives, the enduring experiences, the evocative tales, the concealed corners. The roads less travelled that take you to places that matter. The adventures that gather you up and sweep you away. The blend of the wild and the artistic that makes Scotland what it is. We’d love for you to join us.

Get Issue 13Read it here
Read on

The collections it is in and more in Orkney.

CollectionScotland's Best Art Galleries
More in Orkney
Find out more

For further reading, before you go. The details on this page were checked on .