Arts hub venture launches £500k fundraising bid
AN ambitious fundraising campaign is being launched in support of a £4.5 million project to transform a redundant landmarkiconic Inverness building into a creative arts hub.
The former Inverness Royal Academy building at Midmills is to be converted into a centre featuring low-cost artists’ studios, workshops, rehearsal and exhibition spaces, offices and a cafée.
The venture is being undertaken by Scottish award-winning charity and social enterprise Wasps Studios, which has enlisted Inverness businessman and former academy pupil David Sutherland to lead a local £500,000 fundraising campaign.
As well as safeguarding the future of the prominent grade B listed building for the community, they believe the much-needed facility will help nurture and retain artistic talent in the Highlands.
“It is a great initiative,” Mr Sutherland said. “Not only is the building being saved in structural terms but it is being transformed into a really vibrant use for the community for all time.
“It is not going to end up as a hotel. All the features which generations and generations of former pupils remember are being kept and turned into more vibrant uses.”
The charity, which has already secured £1.2 million from the Scottish Government via Highland Council, is also preparing applications to submit a range of potential funders including the Heritage Lottery.
The Midmills complex was occupied by the academy between 1895 and 1980 when it relocated to its present site in Culduthel.
For the last two years, the buildings have remained empty after the Inverness College UHI relocated to its new Beechwood campus.
Mr Sutherland, who is forming a steering group to run the local fundraising campaign, is keen to hear from former pupils and local residents willing to support the venture.
Having left the school in 1967, he also intends to raise awareness of the appeal at a 50th anniversary reunion of classmates being planned for June as well as spreading the message to former pupils who have spread themselves across the world.
“I had a happy time at the school,” said Mr Sutherland, who went on to become the boss at Tulloch, one of Scotland’s biggest construction companies. “It was a good balance between discipline, education and learning.
“I am keen to see the building continue and hope many other former pupils will feel the same.”
Wasps Studios, whose headquarters are in Glasgow, has invested £24 million in creating studio spaces for artists and creative businesses in 19 buildings across Scotland, including at a former school in Fishertown, Nairn.
Audrey Carlin, the charity’s senior executive director for business development, said it had been approached by Highland Council about whether it would be interested in redeveloping the redundant building.
A study revealed the need for such a hub including low-cost shared studios for graduates, incubator space, business support and mentoring, musical rehearsal and community workshops plus network space for creative industries.
“There is a significant community aspect to it,” she said. “It is not a commercial operation. This is a social enterprise.
“Any money we raise is going into the restoring the building for the future and supporting the artistic and creative community.
“It is about keeping talent in the Highlands and supporting talent in the Highlands which it doesn’t at the moment.”
The project is being carried out in two phases.
Funding of £1 million is already in place for the first phase due to begin in July and will involve urgent and essential repairs to the former arts and science buildings.
The moneyFunding has come from Highland Council, Inverness City Heritage Trust, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and retirement home provider McCarthy & Stone which is developing another part of the site.
The first phase, due to be completed by next March, will also include the creation of 30 artists’ studios.
Attention will then turn to the bigger £4.5 million second phase, focusing on the central building. It will include the creation of more studios and space for a range of creative industries such as graphic design, web development and architecture and digital design.
The aim is to have the work completed by 2019.
Meanwhile, McCarthy & Stone will build 45 homes and the council will deliver 40 affordable retirement homes.
Anyone wanting to give a donation or help with fundraising should call Wasps Studios on 0141 553 5890.
