A new home for Edinburgh’s Print Studio, a centre for children’s literature, a sculpture from a coal mine and Campbeltown’s Picture House were amongst sixteen projects for development announced by Creative Scotland today (25 September).

The awards, for buildings and public art projects, will support organisations to develop ambitious new plans taking place across Scotland. Each project will now begin a detailed development stage and almost £15 million has been set aside by Creative Scotland to support successful final plans.

Dundee’s Bonar Hall will be redeveloped as a learning and performance space for the city’s highly successful Dundee Rep Theatre Company and, in Ayr, the Gaiety Theatre will be upgraded to include digital screening facilities and new education spaces.

Andrew Dixon, Chief Executive, Creative Scotland, welcomed the announcements and added:

‘Great cultural facilities in every part of Scotland allow many more people to experience, enjoy and learn about a range of creative work.

‘A new centre for children’s literature in the place that inspired Peter Pan will enchant young readers for generations to come, while the transformation of a Fife coalfield with an outstanding land sculpture will lead a major regeneration project.’

Dame Barbara Kelly, Chairman of the Peter Pan Moat Brae Trust, said: “This news comes at a very crucial stage of our development. It means we can now really start to tease out the detail of how we will achieve our vision of creating a national centre for Children’s Literature and start to research the wide range of literary and cultural activities we plan to promote. It’s a wonderful moment for the Trust as we embark on our journey to celebrate the birthplace of Peter Pan in Neverland.”

Theo Philip, Planning Manager, Scottish Resources Group welcomed the award and commented: “The Scottish World project team is delighted to have been awarded funding to assist with the delivery of an iconic welcome sculpture at the site which will be visible from the M90 motorway at Kelty, Fife. A competition will be run in the mining communities of Fife to design the new artwork which aims to celebrate the Scots’ extraordinary influence on the world of engineering. We hope that the new piece will become synonymous with the regeneration of the site and this part of Mid Fife.”

Sarah Price, Director, Edinburgh Printmakers, said: “We are delighted our vision to develop an outstanding centre for contemporary printmaking has been given the go-ahead for the next stage.

“Our plan is for high quality, innovative printmaking facilities, for accessible and welcoming new exhibition spaces, a centre where audiences and artists will develop their creative potential to the full.

“For us this decision demonstrates a clear commitment by Creative Scotland to invest in facilities and services for artists to support a creative career. We plan to enable a creative community to develop artwork for local, national and international audiences.

We see this award as a significant contribution to printmaking within the field of contemporary arts in Scotland.”

Jane Mayo, Chairman, Picture House, Campbeltown said: “We are extremely grateful for this award to help conserve our precious, historic cinema and improve our facilities to include the MacGrory Brothers’ iconic photograph collection.”

The sixteen projects receiving investment for further development are:

· Edinburgh Printmakers: development of new premises for Contemporary Art in Print, to support the development of artistic programmes of work locally, nationally and internationally. (Development award £60,000; provisional Stage 2 award £1,725,076)

· Moat Brae, Dumfries: the restoration and development of Moat Brae house and gardens as Scotland’s first centre for children’s literature. (Development award £45,000; provisional Stage 2 award £687,500)

· Scottish World: the creation of a large-scale sculpture symbolising local regeneration at St Ninian’s Surface Mine, near Kelty, Fife. (Development award £2,500; provisional Stage 2 award £147,500)

· Campbeltown Picture House: restoration and upgrading of the Picture House Cinema. (Development award £3,000; provisional Stage 2 award £430,000.)

· Ayr Gaiety Theatre: to upgrade and re-open the Theatre to include a studio, education space, digital screen facilities and flexible spaces. (Development award £52,298; provisional Stage 2 award £1,176,277)

· Dundee Rep Theatre: refurbishment of the Bonar Hall, Dundee, as an additional learning and performance space for the Rep. (Development award £35,925; provisional Stage 2 award £466,000)

· The Arches, Glasgow: refurbishment of the Studio Theatre, Arch 3, Foyer and rehearsal space and installation of acoustic separation and energy management initiatives. (Development supported with investment from the Scottish Government’s capital fund £199,500.)

· Cove Park Ltd, Argyll: refurbishment and enlargement of the existing Artists’ Centre and Artists’ Accommodation Centre. (Development award £25,000; provisional Stage 2 award £621,633.)

· Film City Glasgow: To further develop the feasibility, technical specification and future business model for an expansion of current screen industry facilities in the city, to explore a production facilities village and international-standard studio sound stage. (Development: £75,000; provisional future investment £1 million.)

· Guardians of Scotland, Stirling Bridge: a work of public art to commemorate William Wallace and his counterpart Andrew de Moray. (Development award £15,500; provisional Stage 2 award £188,500.)

· Horsecross Arts, Perth: redevelopment of Perth Theatre to enable Horsecross to further develop as a cultural hub. (Provisional Stage 2 Award: £2 million)

· The Makers Village, Alloa: conversion of buildings in the town for use as workshops, gallery and performance space by Art ‘n’ Mind. (Development award £42,800; provisional Stage 2 award £402,800.)

· Moray Art Centre: extending the Moray Art Centre, Findhorn, with a new creative learning space and digital design studio. (Development supported with investment from the Scottish Government’s capital funds £104,000.)

· Ness River public art programme, Inverness: Highland Council and Inverness Old Town Arts will develop proposals, in consultation with local people, for new public art as part of the Ness River Flood Alleviation. (Development award £46,000; provisional Stage 2 award £259,000.)

· Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Glasgow: development of the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall to support the relocation of the orchestra there. (Provisional Stage 2 Award £1.25 million)

· Star of Caledonia, Gretna: development and delivery of Star of Caledonia, as a border landmark in Dumfries and Galloway. (Development award £49,000; provisional Stage 2 award £1,049,000.)

Source: Creative Scotland