Dumfries and Galloway Council today (Tuesday 19 May) signed a 25 year lease handing over a 3-storey building on the High Street, Dumfries to the artists’ collective Stove Network Ltd.
The lease signing was undertaken by Alex Haswell (Director Community and Customer Services) on behalf on the Council and The Stove Network was represented by Chairman David Smith.
In April 2015 the Council completed a programme of works to make the building fully accessible in line with Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) requirements and is now passing over the building to the Stove for use as a public arts space, facility and resource for the people of the town and the wider region.
With funding from Creative Scotland, the Holywood Trust and the Edward Marshall Trust, The Stove will now be converting the interior into a unique creative space in the heart of Dumfries town centre. Once the works are finished there will a meeting/café area, performance spaces for musicians, singers, poets, and others; showcase opportunities for artists across a wide range of media including digital technology and workspaces for creative businesses and programmes of educational activities.
A five week series of events called ‘Open House’ is currently underway, welcoming people in the town to stop by, get involved in and experience some of what the group hopes to bring to the High Street.
Chairman of Nithsdale Area Committee, Councillor Ted Thompson said;
“I am delighted to see this project opened in the town centre. The Stove Network and the Arts Community can do a great deal in our aims for regeneration by attracting people into the centre of Dumfries with their proven track record of events such as Nithraid where sailing boats race from the Solway Firth up the river Nith to a big public welcome in the centre of the town. I wish them every success and I look forward to enjoying the future events along with the economic benefits that this venture will bring.”
Councillor Colin Smyth, Chairman of the Council’s Economy, Environment and Infrastructure Committee said;
“This former empty shop was acquired with funding from the Scottish Government’s Town Centre Regeneration Fund on the understanding that it would be used as a showcase for arts activity that will support the regeneration of Dumfries town centre. I am very pleased to see the building starting to fulfil its potential both as a creative landmark in the town and as a contributor to the economy of Dumfries and Galloway.”
David Smith Chair of the Stove Network said;
“We are delighted that we now have the use of the Stove building to help us make things happen in the town centre. This is a unique initiative that has been born and bred locally but is already attracting national attention. People in the town have responded really positively so far to what we are doing and we look forward to getting more locals and visitors involved in activities and events over the summer.”
The lease is for a 25 year period at a nominal rent of £1 per annum for the first three years with reviews after the third and seventh year, and every fifth year thereafter.
100 High Street was acquired by Dumfries and Galloway Council and Dumfries and Galloway Chamber of Commerce in 2010 as part of a Scottish Government Town Centre Regeneration Fund programme aimed at supporting the regeneration of Dumfries Town Centre.
Pictures attached
Alex Haswell, Cllr Ted Thompson and David Smith signing the lease, with members of The Stove and Dumfries and Galloway Council looking on.
