News / Hopes Bonhoga refurbishment will be completed ‘by end of 2025’
REFURBISHMENT on the Bonhoga art gallery and café could be completed by the end of the year, Shetland Arts hopes.
Builders from JDC Shetland have started renovations, with major works taking place to make the historic building more energy efficient and accessible.
Bonhoga closed in late 2023 for the work, which Shetland Arts initially hoped would be completed last year.
However it now looks like it is set to miss a second tourist summer season.
Shetland Arts chief executive Graeme Howell said it was “really exciting” to see work finally starting at the former mill, which contains an art gallery, a shop and a popular café.
“The builders from JDC Shetland are now on site and we’re aiming to have everything completed by the end of 2025,” Howell said.
“We’ll be sharing more updates as things progress and we can’t wait to welcome everyone back once it’s all finished.”
Bonhoga’s doors were shut at the tail end of 2023 for the refurbishment, with Shetland Arts announcing in March 2024 the work would take longer than expected.
It meant that the arts trust missed out on a bumper tourist season, which now looks to extend for a second year.
Howell admitted to Shetland News last December it was “disappointing” they had not been able to welcome people in this year.
“It was disappointing for us. I think it was disappointing for the artists we support through Bonhoga and the communities that make use of Bonhoga,” he said.
However he said it was “an old building”, adding: “You’ve got to take advantage to secure these facilities for the future when you can”.
In a blog post on the Shetland Arts website in March 2024, née gibson architects director Adrian Wishart said the job is a “top-down refurbishment”.
“What excites us most is the opportunity to refine how the building layout can be used by the public and to the improve energy efficiency of any building,” he said.
He said that internally the pitch pine floor beams, stairs and layout will remain, “but it’s intended that new wall linings will be provided as part of the improvement of the thermal fabric of the outer walls and roof”.
“It’s also intended that the conservatory glazing will be improved, and enlarging the toilets.
“Essentially, we hope to preserve the character of the building, and its function as a conduit for the arts.”
Shetland Arts received funding through the Shetland Charitable Trust capital grants scheme for the work, as well as the SIC-administered coastal communities fund.
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