Museum

Timespan museum provides insight to the colourful history of Helmsdale and the surrounding area. The multi-faceted collection illustrates many aspects of past ways of life with re-creations of a croft, byre, smithy, and shop.  Other displays present the areas’ archaeology, geology and natural history.

To find out more about activities and Events please look at the What’s on section.

Storytelling Weekend -

Face to face or virtually connected at Timespan

Timespan storytelling weekend was a great success according to the many positive comments received from those who participated in the storytelling sessions, who viewed the premier screening of the new animated films or who enjoyed the music and entertainment supplied by various performers at the busy ceilidh.

The storytelling weekend marked the culmination of the Virtual and Real Storyteller project which, with the support of Leader +, The Scottish Arts Council, Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise, The Highland Council and Docspace, has developed over the past 2 years. The final outcome is 5 fantastically imaginative and evocative short animated films surely destined to become a favourite feature of the redeveloped museum.

The films have been created with input from and under the expert guidance of Highland based Storyteller Bob Pegg and Artist and animator John McGeoch who operates the multi-media studio Arts in Motion. However the actual content of each story has been created and shaped by the members of the community who came along to initial workshop sessions in Timespan and who continued to be involved in further development sessions in Arts in Motion studio.

Talents in acting, script writing , creating artwork were revealed as each story unravelled and was interpreted in a uniquely original style ensuring the lore and legend of Helmsdale would be preserved and presented in lively and intriguing way for all who visit the museum to enjoy.

The story room is designed to be space for live or virtual storytelling.

For anyone familiar with the terminology, now part of the vocabulary which accompanies all technologically orientated activities, ‘live’ would describe storytelling by a real person who engages the audience in a face to face performance/session whereas ‘virtual’ would be applied to distinguish the storytelling delivered by audio device, computer, film i.e anything that removes the human as the method of delivery.

As the storytelling weekend developed it became apparent that different methods of conveying stories created different types of experience for the audience.

The showing of the films on a large screen with the fabulous imagery enthralling and inspiring further imaginative responses from the viewer with the audio resonating around the room communicating the actual stories undoubtedly created a sensory experience for all. However the sessions with the audience engaged by a sole storyteller using their bank of vocal and facial expressions were equally enjoyable. The personal recollections, redolent of the Highland oral tradition, drew listeners close and prompted many to dig deep into their own memory banks. All present marvelled at the skills of the performers who shared these ancient tales while connecting them so proficiently to the 21st c.

The insights and knowledge imparted by Bob Pegg about the tradition of Folk talesthroughout the UK highlighted the need to continue to share and record stories in these fast moving times.

The technical review provided by John McGeoch explained how such films were put together piece by piece, artwork collaged and manipulated, audio tweaked and tested until in harmony with the visuals undoubtedly demonstrated the art ( and work) involved in creating a final product.

Donald Smith Director of the Scottish Storytelling centre made the journey north from Edinburgh to participate in the weekend and his session about the power of myth and storytelling was a provocative appraisal of how the unprecedented increase in virtual communications is eroding human interaction. The rise of the virtual world of communicating: Facebook, Bebo and other websites have removed the face to face or verbal element previously required when relating to another human; sharing a conversation or story. The subject of gossiping fell neatly into this sphere and was highlighted as being a very important aspect of the human need to share and have contact with others. This contact was considered crucial in reviving and renewing the soul, on a base level it is gossip which sustains the fabric of a community , as Donald Smith put it ’ Long live gossip; it is the subsoil of storytelling’. 

The weekends events certainly served to exemplify how a gathering of people willing to share stories from different communities; Ireland, Outer Hebrides, Shetland and Sutherland can really inject a boost, a feeling of community and sense of place. Ceilidh culture is recognised as a valuable part of preserving and celebrating traditions, sharing age old stories and songs with the younger generations. The Timespan team were delighted at the response from the community and hope that everyone who visits the museum and sits in the storyroom to listen to live or virtual stories will be given a true taste of storytelling Helmsdale style.

A huge thank you to everyone who helped make this event such as success.

One of the last comments made, before everyone dispersed for their bus, ferry or plane, was that the reception received in Helmsdale was the warmest they had ever enjoyed on their storytelling travels, that the community were so friendly and welcoming that they really would remember it for a long, long time. The best stories are not easily forgotten and neither are the people who make the place. We hope this event will be the first of many.