Community Owned
As part of the ongoing regeneration programme around MacMillan Square, North Edinburgh Arts was granted full community ownership of the venue and garden in 2022, through a community asset transfer from the City of Edinburgh Council, supported by the Scottish Land Fund. This allowed NEA to lead on the development of the extended creative and community hub for the North of the city, working in partnership with the Council.
Bringing the organisation, established in 1998, into community ownership and extending and refurbishing the venue makes sure it is fit for purpose for 2025, and for the next generation of local residents. New enterprise, workshop, and creative studios and spaces are being built, alongside an expanded café, community wood workshop, greenhouse, hot-desk space, and double height atrium. These bring the NEA venue to over 2000 m2 across four floors of accessible creative and community space.
Along with our 96-seat theatre and half-acre community garden, they all work to complement the Council’s adjoining library and early year’s centre, with everything accessed by a shared entrance off MacMillan Square.
NEA aims to be the go-to, communal, accessible, shared space for the community in the long term – owned and shaped by those who use it. The vision is to become the de-facto ‘town square’ where people meet, hear and share news, support one another, develop ideas, celebrate, and console. A place where people connect, feel a part of, and contribute to, something bigger. It will be secured in perpetuity, as community owned land and buildings, where local people can control what happens.
The new spaces will offer a welcome and a sense of belonging for existing residents and those newly arrived. The aim is for young people to develop increased skills, confidence and self-esteem within the walls. For families and children to have safe and inspiring places to enjoy locally, and for older people to feel part of a connected community, engaging with and supported by their neighbours.
NEA aims to harness the nimble and creative approach of a community-led organisation, partnered with the Council and other bodies. NEA creates places where people want to be; with meaningful impact and long-term positive change rippling out from a community-owned core.
