Mareel

Mareel will be the UK's most northerly music, cinema and creative industries centre which is due to open in early 2011. Situated in a prominent quayside area in Lerwick next to the new Shetland Museum and Archives, Mareel will have two cinema screens, a live performance auditorium, rehearsal rooms, a recording studio, education and training spaces, a digital media production suite and a cafe bar.

Mareel viewed from Hay's Dock - click to view slideshow

Mareel will provide a year round programme of films, live music and other performance events, and a programme of formal and informal education, training and learning activities designed to appeal to the whole community. It will be a hub and a focus for the creative communities not just in Shetland but beyond and a catalyst for the emerging creative industry sector in Shetland.

Shetland Arts will manage Mareel and we have already done a lot of thinking about how it will work: what will happen in the building itself, online and through outreach activity. Even more exciting, we’re thinking about how all our venues will co-operate with other venues and partnerships in Shetland and much further afield.

Mareel will be a unique location for live recorded and streamed performance. World class performers playing for and playing with a great crowd will create rich digital content. Drawing upon its very special remote, yet well connected location, live acts will not only get to experience the inspiring seascapes and landscapes of Shetland but will get to enjoy the world-renowned hospitality of Shetland people. There is no better audience in the world

For the latest information see Mareel news.

Design

Gareth Hoskins Architects (GHA) won a national competition to design the UK's most northerly cinema and music venue in July 2006. Since then GHA and Shetland Arts have been working closely with local and national stakeholders, a team of specialist advisors and funders to deliver a state of the art venue that will not only be the pride of Shetland but of Scotland. Mareel is now under construction.

Floor Plan

Below is a detailed floor plan for Shetland Arts music, cinema and education venue currently being built in North Ness, Lerwick, Shetland. Download Mareel Floor Plan (PDF).

Mareel Floor Plan

Construction

Shetland based DITT Construction Ltd won the contract to build Mareel and construction started in June 2009.

Below is a live feed (updated every 10 secs) of the construction of Mareel in Lerwick, courtesy of www.shetland.org. You can view more camera on 60 North TV.