New curator appointed at Shetland Museum and Archives

Ian Tait has been formally appointed curator of Shetland Museum and Archives, it was announced today.

Dr Tait, who started work on a two-year training programme at the old museum in 1984 after leaving school, had been acting curator. He takes up the post permanently following the death of Tommy Watt earlier this year.

Dr Tait said: “My true passion is Shetland history and culture. The museum collection is the absolute core of the service we run. We couldn’t deliver such a successful service for education, exhibition and support of community museums if it wasn’t for such a wonderful collection.

“I have spent all my life absorbing Shetland’s culture and heritage and hope that through my knowledge I can bring something special to the museum service as museum curator.”

General manager of Shetland Amenity Trust Jimmy Moncrieff said: “No-one knows more about the museum’s collections than Ian and everyone who has met Ian realises his keen interest in Shetland’s heritage and culture. I wish him all the best in his new role.”

Dr Tait was made an assistant curator in the late 1980s, but his role became more specialised when the new museum and archives opened in 2007 – at that time he took on the role of curator of collections.

He also received a PhD from the University of St Andrews in vernacular architecture in Shetland.