NOTE: Since this announcement, we have been notified by DITT Construction Ltd of further delay in the handover of Mareel to Shetland Arts. Please see: http://www.shetlandarts.org/mareel-opening-delay/ for further details.

Original announcement below:

Shetland Arts is delighted to announce the long-awaited opening date of Mareel following DITT Construction Ltd confirming to Shetland Arts that they will hand the building over on Monday 30th April 2012. Shetland Arts has also agreed with DITT Construction Ltd, access to certain parts of the building from the end of March. This will enable Shetland Arts to begin their post contract fit of the 2 cinemas and main auditorium.

The venue will open on Thursday 24 May 2012. There will be news to follow in coming weeks on the exciting plans taking shape for activities and events in Mareel from Spring next year.

Director of Shetland Arts, Gwilym Gibbons, has put together a short video-blog in celebration of the announcement and is planning to give the public a sneak peek at Mareel’s progress in another video-blog in the coming weeks. You can view the video-blog below.

Mr Gibbons added: “Shetland Arts is delighted to be making this announcement. The building is looking fantastic and although it has been a long haul for us all we are in no doubt that the quality of the venue and the experiences it will offer will in time complement Shetland’s other great cultural assets.”