SPACE - Craigmillar Social Enterprise and Arts Centre

SPACE is a centre of excellence for social enterprise and community arts in Craigmillar, Edinburgh. 

The former Craigmillar Primary School, a ‘B’ listed, landmark building has been fully refurbished by Castle Rock Edinvar with support from a number of agencies including Communities Scotland - Wider Role and Future Builders, Scottish Arts Council, Heritage Lottery Fund and European Regional Development Fund.

The Scottish Arts Council Lottery awarded £175,000 towards the cost of refurbishment to create office space for social enterprises, children’s space in the form of new nursery provision, and an arts space.

This contains around 337 m² (3,628 ft²) of useable space for the community that includes exhibition/gallery and theatre/performance spaces plus a community archive/resource centre. This area is operated by Craigmillar Community Arts.

Craigmillar Community Arts will use the gallery as an exhibition space for local artists as well as artists from further afield. The gallery recently housed an exhibition of the original artwork used in the 2007 Craigmillar community calendar. Different organisations took responsibility for each month/page and created artwork using the theme ‘Making old things new.’

Craigmillar Community Arts also host workshops that run simultaneously to the exhibitions, so that children and young people can engage more fully with the artwork on display and interpret it in new ways.

The theatre has already hosted ‘A Grand Variety Show’ which saw local dancers, stand up comedians, storytellers and musicians take to the stage during the Craigmillar Festival in August 2006. The theatre has also hosted a visiting theatre company for disabled people.

As the landscape around SPACE continues to evolve, it is hoped that this building and its prized mural will play a significant part in the community’s future.

Supported by the National Lottery through the Scottish Arts Council.