Two exhibitions exploring the theme of Hebridean emigration are being held at Museum nan Eilean venues

 this summer, ahead of the Emigration Conference in the autumn. The first exhibition opens at Museum nan Eilean Lionacleit at 6pm this Friday (30 May).

Museum nan Eilean has been fortunate to be able to borrow a number of striking objects from National Museums Scotland. These loans are supported by the Weston Loan Programme with Art Fund. Created by the Garfield Weston Foundation and Art Fund, the Weston Loan Programme is the first ever UK-wide funding scheme to enable smaller and local authority museums to borrow works of art and artefacts from national collections.

The exhibitions will feature Indigenous artefacts from National Museums Scotland Americas Collections including snowshoes, fire bags and an Inuit Chief’s coat.

These artefacts have never been shown in the islands, and several have an intriguing connection to a fur trader from the Outer Hebrides. Ashley Ferrier, Museum nan Eilean Collections Officer said,

 ‘It is significant that we are able to display in the Outer Hebrides objects related to Indigenous Peoples and the fur traders who worked in Hudson’s Bay, as well as items related to gold mining across the world. These are stories that are less well-known, and the national loans help illustrate and highlight these historical events.’

The exhibitions will also feature two iconic paintings, on loan from the Fleming-Wyfold Collection, on the theme of the Highland Clearances:

• Lochaber no More by John Watson Nicol (at MnE Lionacleit)
• The Last of the Clan by Thomas Faed (at MnE Stornoway)

These painting have not been shown in the islands for almost 40 years.

Museum Development Officer Caitriona MacCuish said, 

‘We are delighted to be able to borrow not one, but two famous paintings, and to work with the Fleming-Wyfold Foundation for the first time. We hope that people of all ages will visit our exhibitions to view them; it is incredibly poignant to be confronted with the original works of art.’

Other loaned material helping to tell emigrant stories will also be on display from the Scottish Diaspora Tapestry and the National Mining Museum Scotland.

Through a mix of artefacts, archives and documents, including important items from Museum nan Eilean’s own collections, subjects explored include the fur trade and exploration, the gold rushes, mining, the experiences of women and child migration. The exhibitions also consider the impact on the Indigenous Peoples whose lands were settled.

Seonaid McDonald, Archivist, said:

 ‘One of the most interesting items researched from our collections was a 19th century priest’s notebook which gives information about emigration from South Uist in 1772. This has now been conserved and digitised and we hope to make it accessible online soon, alongside showcasing it in the exhibition.’

Sophia Weston, Deputy Chair of the Garfield Weston Foundation, said:

 “One of the key aims of the Weston Loan Programme is to help museums tell compelling stories through meaningful loans that have relevance to local heritage, so we are delighted to support these exhibitions in Lionacleit and Stornoway which will bring objects never before seen in the islands to new audiences.”

Community input has also been important to help tell the emigration stories.  There was a very positive response from families and descendants to the museum’s appeal for photographs. Only a selection could be included in the exhibition, but a new resource section of the website will feature many more.

The exhibitions will run at Museum nan Eilean, Lionacleit, from 31st May until 29th November 2025, and at Museum nan Eilean, Stornoway, from 14th June until 29th November 2025.

There will be an activity programme associated with the exhibition, funded by the Art Fund, through the Garfield Weston Foundation. More details will be advertised through our social media pages and website in due course.

Emigration conference: Saoghal Mòr Farsaing 30 Sep-1 Oct 2025

In addition to our exhibitions, Museum & Tasglann nan Eilean have organised a three-day conference on the theme of emigration. The event will be held at Lews Castle, Stornoway, from 30th September to 2nd October 2025. The conference programme offers a wide and varied consideration of emigration – a subject so significant to the history of the islands. Delegates can attend in person or online.

Details of the full conference programme and how to book.