18 September 2020
North Edinburgh Arts secures Scotish Land Funds
As part of the ongoing regeneration programme around MacMillan Square, North Edinburgh Arts (NEA) has secured £156,000 from the Scottish Land Fund. One of only two successful bids in Edinburgh, the funds will enable the charity to buy the land and building recently agreed as a community asset transfer from the City of Edinburgh Council. With the purchase of an additional plot of land to the north of the organisation’s venue, NEA will work in partnership with the Council to deliver a community and neighbourhood hub which promotes culture, learning, work and wellbeing for this area of the city. This will include a new early years centre, library, affordable homes as well as an extension to and refurbishment of the existing NEA building.
Bringing the organisation, established in 1998, into community ownership and working to extend the facilities will make sure this dynamic community venue is fit for purpose for the next two decades. New enterprise, workshop, learning space and creative studios are planned, alongside a dedicated youth area, expanded café, and shared atrium all working to complement the Council’s adjoining library and early year’s provision.
NEA carried out extensive consultation to gauge support for the project with 96% of respondents in favour. The organisation offers local residents a place to relax, explore, learn, meet, share, volunteer and have fun in. Last year over 40,000 visits were made to the venue once described by STV as ‘a bright bubble behind Muirhouse shopping centre‘. NEA is working with Richard Murphy Architects, and Council colleagues, to make sure the new hub is inspiring, inviting and innovative, and brings a high quality facility to the newly formed MacMillan Square.
If you’re interested to know more, please read full press release.
21 August 2020
As part of the ongoing regeneration programme around MacMillan Square, North Edinburgh Arts (NEA) has been granted full community ownership in a community asset transfer from the City of Edinburgh Council. With the additional transfer of a plot of land to the north of the organisation’s venue, NEA is now in a position to lead on the development of an extended creative and community hub for the area, working in partnership with the Council.
New enterprise, workshop, learning space and creative studios are planned, alongside a dedicated youth area, expanded café, and shared atrium all working to complement the Council’s adjoining Muirhouse Library and early year’s provision. We’re delighted to be bringing North Edinburgh Arts into community ownership and working to extend our facilities whicj will make sure that our dynamic community venue is fit for purpose for the next two decades. To read more about this exciting news for our organisation and local community, download our press release: NEA Community Asset Transfer press release 21.08.20
For more information about the community asset transfer, please read the Council’s report.
For more information about our plans, please read NEA Business Plan 2020 – Community Enterprise.
Architects Sketch by Richard Murphy Architects.
