A community-led organisation

focusing on ARTS, HEALTH and WELLBEING

Our Values

  • Building Connection

    We would like to bring people together in new ways. We believe that everyone is creative regardless of age, illness or disability. Everyone deserves to have the opportunity to explore their unique creativity to the full.

  • Bringing Compassion

    Our aim is to offer safe spaces, time, attention and therapeutic opportunities to support people and help them develop their own creative confidence – in their own way.

  • Believing in Community

    We believe communities thrive when everyone has a sense of safety, belonging, dignity and connection. We hope our organisation will offer ways to celebrate the Bigton community and everyone connected to it.

  • Boosting Creativity

    By offering new opportunities we hope to inspire people to try new things. Through active participation in the arts we can connect, communicate and challenge ourselves in new ways.

From St Ninian’s by Paul Bloomer and Underwater by Dylan Ritch

Our Aim

Our aim is to provide a sustainable, supportive and inspirational hub for arts and health in Bigton that promotes wellbeing and creative confidence for all.

You can find out more about the background to the Hymhus project here

✺ Common Hymhus Questions ✺

  • The building used to be called St Ninian's Church. It was renamed after we took community ownership from the Church of Scotland.

    The first part of the word 'Hym' was chosen to honour the musical history of the building and all the hymns that have been sung here over the years. Singing and songs are a vital part of this whole project.

    The second part 'hus' reflects our desire to create a welcoming and homely atmosphere and provides a nod to our Shetlandic / Scandinavian connections.

  • In Shetland dialect, in Bigton, we tend to start the the word Hymns (songs that people sing in churches) in this way:

    Hi! (like you would greet someone)

    However, in Scots or English it would more likely be pronounced 'him'

    So we say HIE - M - HOOS

    We are really not precious about it though so please pronounce it any way that feels comfortable to you!

  • We don't have a strong opinion about this but sometimes people ask this question!

    We tend to say Hymhus without the 'the', in same way that people talk about Isleburgh, Mareel or Bonhoga. Also in Shetland dialect we would say 'da' instead of 'the'.

    However, because of the 'hus' some people seem to instinctively call it 'The' Hymhus.

    We also tend to speak about Bigton Collective as a name rather than saying 'the' Bigton Collective.

    There's no right or wrong and likely time will tell which versions stick!

  • Our Public Opening times are here

    Sometimes when our groups are on (e.g. on Fridays when we have lots of activities) it is totally fine to drop in along!

    When we have private groups or services running there will be a sign in the porch if we can't be interrupted. Alice works in a private room in the former Vestry and has clear signs when sessions are in progress.

    If you'd like to visit outwith our normal hours please drop us a message on info@bigtoncollective.org and we will be happy to help where we can.

  • No, the building is no longer used for religious services.

    However, we do host ceremonies - funerals, weddings, blessings and memorials.

    People of all denominations and faiths are welcome here.

Fair Work

In alignment with the Fair Work Convention’s vision that:

by 2025, people in Scotland will have a world-leading working life where fair work drives success, wellbeing and prosperity for individuals, businesses, organisations and society

Bigton Collective is committed to developing a workplace that is built on the five key dimensions of Fair Work: effective voice, opportunity, security, fulfilment and respect.