In autumn 2023, Artist Alice Betts collaborated with members of the Art for Grown Ups group to explore and develop a plan for a permanent visual arts studio and making space within the expanded and refurbished NEA building.
As part of this research and development project, Alice and some of the Art for Growns Ups participants visited and worked with numerous creative spaces such as Out of the Blue-Print, Curious Seed Dance, The Living Memory Association’s Wee Hub at Ocean Terminal, Artlink’s Curious Routes Studio and Garvald Arts’s Orwell Arts space in Dalry.
As well as addressing practical considerations such as care and maintenance, sharing workload, volunteer rotas, booking systems, storing artwork and fair access for all, Alice has been considering what aspects of NEA’s programme could blossom in a self-led studio space for local people. What would a regular timetable combining scheduled workshop activities with open access to facilities look like?
Alice was also keen to gather insights and perspectives from local artists beyond the AFGU group to contribute to the development of this free creative space for adults in the area. At the end of October 2023, an open meeting for local creatives was organised to provide a platform for discussion about their needs, ideas and suggestions for a free community art studio.
This research and development project was funded by Edinburgh City Council via the Creative Community Hubs Network.
