Mareel

Shetlopedia - The Shetland Encyclopaedia

Mareel is the name for the new cinema and music venue which is being built in Shetland.
The £12M project is being undertaken by D.I.T.T. Construction Ltd., with an expected opening in 2012.

Funding for the project has come from various bodies, including £2.8M from the European Regional Development Fund.

History

For many years there has been a serious need in Shetland for better facilities to promote the wealth of musical talent in the islands. Talent abounds, which is recognised worldwide, but artists have been stifled by the lack of high quality facilities.
Bands brought up to Shetland would often play in ill-equipped pubs or local halls which were under-par. One of Lerwick's best venues, The North Star was closed in 2007, having been sold to Hjaltland Housing Association, this further prompted calls for a new suitable venue. However, the cost of the project and fears about the ongoing running costs produced some resistance among councillors and the general public.

At a full meeting of the Shetland Islands Council, on 25th June 2008, the council decided in favour of going ahead with the venue. The vote at the meeting was hung at 9 for and 9 against until Convener Sandy Cluness used his deciding vote in favour of the project.

The split in the council vote was somewhat representative of public feeling on the project, with many people strongly in support of it, and just as many against it, with most of the opposition based on doubt in the financial viability of the venue and fears that the venue will require public subsidy in the future which could jeopardise other publicly funded projects.
Since the vote some of the councillors who are against Mareel have continued their objections, including un-democratic calls for another vote to be held with the 4 councillors present who were away on other business at the time the decision was made.

Further details of the council vote, and the issues relating to the debate over the project can be found here.

The Building Project

We will add pictures on a regular basis to show the progress of the building.
2009

The bare site, before construction starts. Picture by: Shetlandpeat.

Before the building of the venue itself, the building site office's are nearing completion. Picture by:Jeannie.

Site office completed. Picture by: Jeannie.

The site on the first of September. Picture by: Jeannie.

Foundations taking shape, Nov. 09 Picture by: Jeannie.

Further building progress Dec 09 Picture by Jeannie.

2010

March 10th Picture by Jeannie.

March 10th - View from North Ness, with Shetland Museum and Hay's Dock in background. Picture by Jeannie.

Mid March Picture by Jeannie.

Early April. Scaffold gets a bit higher with every picture. Picture By: Jeannie.

View from North Ness, early May Picture by: Jeannie.

View from Museum, early May Picture by: Jeannie.

Panorama picture of the site, from the North Ness, Early May 2010. Picture by: Jeannie.

Late May 2010. Picture by: Jeannie.

Mid July. Picture by: Jeannie.

Seen from the Museum in mid July Picture by Jeannie.

Board on the site office which shows how it will look when finished Picture by Jeannie.

August. Photo by Jeannie.

Late October. Photo by Jeannie.

7th of November. Photo by Jeannie.

Early November. Photo by Jeannie.

Seen from Hay's Dock early November. Photo by Jeannie.

Seen from Hay's pier, July 2011.
(Photographers note: When seen from this angle, with none of the surrounding buildings in frame, it can be seen that perhaps the architect has managed to design a building which could be very striking. In a different location.)