The Vikings are set to dominate the island this year with exhibitions hosted by Manx National Heritage.
The exhibitions form part of an extensive programme of events for 2016 including a number of new exhibitions, updated displays, lectures and family fun days.
Visitors to MNH sites will also see some of the conservation and improvement works when the seasonal attractions re-open in February and March.
MNH director Edmund Southworth said: ‘2016 will see some really special exhibitions in Peel and Douglas, with something for everyone. Working with partners allows us to put on high quality shows on very different themes which all add to our understanding of Manx culture throughout the ages.
‘We are continuing our programme of upgrading and refreshing the displays and facilities so people can see something new when they visit. By doing all of this we hope we can please our local community just as much as those who visit the island on holiday.’
‘Heroes’, which runs to March 2016 at the Manx Museum, narrates the personal histories of legendary names in the Viking world including Godred Croven (King Orry), one of the most powerful Viking kings of Man and the Isles. ‘Heroes’ is hosted in conjunction with York Archaeological Trust.
‘Valhalla: In Search of the Viking Dead’, opens at the House of Manannan in Peel in October and explores how the Vikings commemorated and celebrated their dead using pagan boat burials, grave goods and carved headstones.
Vikings are also the theme behind Danish artist Susanne Thea’s exhibition of prints, ‘They came from the Deep Blue Sea’, which runs from February 6 to April 10 at the House of Manannan.
Her prints are inspired by the Battle of Clontarf in Ireland in AD 1014, when thousands of Vikings were killed and the Irish lost a king, murdered by the leader of the Manx Vikings.
The RNLI’s touring exhibition ‘Hope in the Great War’ arrives in April. The exhibition celebrates timeless courage during the First World War and tells the wartime story of six heroic RNLI rescues.
Images by award-winning Manx photographer Chris Killip will be the main focus of an exhibition at the Manx Museum from May to July. Chris is well known for his gritty black and white images.
From August to October, the Manx Museum will feature a major exhibition by internationally renowned artist Roger Dean. He is best known for his work on fantasy landscapes for posters and album covers for musicians and has sold more than 60m copies.
A variety of family friendly events are planned, starting with the annual Egg Rolling at Cregneash on Easter Monday.
Edmund said much of MNH’s work involved the conservation and preservation of buildings, sites and collections, including the famous clock at Castle Rushen.
‘Conservation of the yacht Peggy is also high profile and we’ll be giving people the opportunity to help with this scheme. This type of specialised work often goes unseen by our visitors but we’ll be giving lots of unique opportunities to see and hear about it in our events programme and in our social media.’
Spring will also see the skeleton of the giant deer go back on display at the Manx Museum – in the newly refurbished Geology Gallery – following cleaning and conservation treatment.