Research Article Published. Living on the Edge - Can Cultural Heritage be used as a Tool to Fight Depopulation in Scottish Islands?

Dr. Andrew Lind and Dr. Andrew Jennings from the University of the Highlands and Islands Institute for Northern Studies have unveiled their initial findings from the significant Heritage in Depopulated European Areas (HerInDep) project.

Their insightful report, titled ‘Living on the Edge? – Shetland and the HerInDep Project: An Initial Survey’, opens up fascinating discussions about our heritage and the link to a strategy to help halt depopulation in Shetland.

The HerInDep research program focuses on how the decline of European peripheral areas is contributing to the loss of intangible culture, such as language and dialect, as well as the abandonment and degradation of buildings and landscapes. It also examines the impact of these changes on the people living in these depopulated regions by examining three case study areas: Broumov in a remote rural region of Czechia, Kaunas in Lithuania and Shetland.

According to Scotland’s 2022 Census, Shetland's population has declined since 2011, unlike Orkney, which has seen growth. While Shetland's population decrease is not as pronounced as in some other regions, it has sparked renewed discussions about the long-term sustainability of the population in the UK’s northernmost archipelago.

Recent research indicates that cultural heritage, rather than being a victim of depopulation, can actually create opportunities to sustain existing populations and attract new residents to islands. Dr. Lind and Dr. Jennings’s paper offers an overview of the current demographic and cultural heritage situation in Shetland. It poses the essential research question: can cultural heritage serve as a tool for local communities to combat depopulation?

Dr Andrew Lind states, “The issue of population decline and the resulting strategies which emerge to counteract it usually adopt a predominantly economic outlook … While the creation of economic opportunities and suitable housing are key factors within this demographic equation, so too is the cultural heritage of the locality and its ability to foster integration, community identity and social cohesion. The Heritage in Depopulated European Areas project seeks to explore this topic in greater depth within ‘peripheral’ regions, and this initial report sets the background and marks the first stage of the research.”

The research indicates that Shetland's rich cultural heritage is crucial in shaping the community's identity and sense of place. It also significantly impacts the region's economy and benefits from substantial financial support. Given these factors, Shetland is well-positioned to leverage its cultural heritage assets to address depopulation. Both islanders and visitors widely acknowledge the unique and appealing cultural heritage that Shetland offers (Shetland Arts Citation 2009). As demonstrated in similar studies, this heritage can be a powerful attraction for potential migrants and aligns well with the islands’ reputation for providing a higher standard of living.

Dr Andrew Jennings finishes by saying, “As part of the HerInDep project, further research will be conducted to better understand the attitudes and needs of both the existing community and incomers in relation to cultural heritage. This will also explore how Shetland’s cultural heritage can be best supported, maintained and showcased to realise its greater demographic potential, by working closely with the local heritage community.”

The full article, ‘Living on the edge? – Shetland and the HerinDep project: an initial survey,’ is available on open access.