Plans lodged for Midmills arts hub in Inverness

PLANS have been submitted to begin work on an ambitious £4.5 million project to transform a redundant landmark Inverness building into a creative arts hub.

The former Inverness Royal Academy building at Midmills is set to be converted into a centre featuring low-cost artists’ studios, workshops, rehearsal and exhibition spaces, offices and a café.

The venture is being undertaken by Scottish award-winning charity and social enterprise Wasps Studios which has submitted an application to Highland Council to carry out repairs to the fabric of the building,

It includes making good of elevations where adjoining buildings have been removed, internal alterations including new toilets and the removal and alterations to internal partitions to form studio spaces. A new boiler plant is also proposed.

Glasgow-based Wasps has teamed up with Inverness businessman and former academy pupil David Sutherland to lead a local £500,000 fundraising campaign for the project.

The aim is to safeguard the B-listed building for the community and help nurture and retain artistic talent in the Highland.

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