Timespan is a creative heritage and arts development hub based in Helmsdale, Sutherland in the North East Highlands of Scotland. It is a meeting place between our past and our future; linking culture, heritage, the arts, people and their ideas.

Timespan was founded in 1986 with the aim of providing the community and visitors with an insight into the fascinating history of Helmsdale and its surrounding area. It developed from a small local heritage centre into an award-winning museum and the only (non-private) contemporary art gallery in Sutherland.

Following a significant redevelopment in 2007, the museum and gallery now meet the latest national display and conservation standards and we also added a community workshop space, IT suite, artist studio-flat, storytelling room, archive and riverside geology garden.

We provide a high quality venue and outreach opportunities for researchers, artists, volunteers, audiences and participants.

We create access and build bridges to public understanding of heritage and contemporary visual arts practice of international, national and local significance. We value the importance of our collection and our need to preserve the heritage of our area. Timespan engages the communities of Sutherland and visitors to the area, supporting and developing audiences and artists from here and beyond.

Our focus is on the people we serve; on pushing at the leading edges of creative exploration in and between arts and heritage; on access to excellence, collaborations, artist and researcher development and vibrant community engagement. We aim to challenge perceptions of what can be delivered by a cultural organisation rooted in the distinctive, but fragile, social and economic ecology of this large, rural and remote area.

Timespan Welcome from Timespan on Vimeo.

Timespan now!

There is a real buzz in Timespan these days. Many new corners have been turned under the Directorship of Nicola Henderson and staff are enjoying new challenges under her expert guidance. More people than ever are coming through the door – tourists, visitors and members of the local community. The exhibitions (both heritage and art) are attracting more people than ever. Timespan keeps on attracting volunteers to help in all areas of the organisation and the board continues to exercise sound financial management despite the economic gloom.

We urge you to visit us to explore our unique situation and our ‘take’ on the locality. If you can’t visit us in person, then enjoy exploring through our exciting new website to get a real feeling of what we are – a first rate cultural experience.

Timespan
Dunrobin Street,
Helmsdale,
Sutherland,
KW8 6JX

Tel: 01431 821327

Email: enquiries@timespan.org.uk

Opening Times for 2011
Mon - Sat:  10 – 5
Sunday:     12 – 5