Art and Craft South West Scotland

 

Background To The Showcase Dumfries Project

 

Dumfries & Galloway Council and partners on the Dumfries Town Centre Steering Group successfully secured £1.965 million of funding through the Scottish Government's Town Centre Regeneration Fund (TCRF) for Dumfries Town Centre in June 2009. Dumfries: A Capital Project is focused around the heart of Dumfries Town Centre at the Midsteeple and brings together six projects:

 

- Plainstanes Gathering Place and Events Podium

- Property Acquisition for Re-development

- Showcase Dumfries

- Bruce, Burns and Barrie Arts Project

- CCTV and Lighting

 

The Dumfries & Galloway Chamber of Commerce has been represented on the Dumfries Town Centre Steering Group since its inception and the funding package secured included £750k to be allocated to the Chamber of Commerce for the Showcase Dumfries project The Chamber 's proposal was to buy a vacant shop unit close to the High Street in Dumfries (12 -14 Queensberry Street) and then renovate and convert it into a "centre for local creativity ".The centre would "showcase " local talent and provide a high street outlet for locally created products. It would be the Chamber's intention to lease the building on a full repairing and insuring basis to an agreed management organisation. Originally, the aim was to work in partnership with an already established artist-led group such as the Spring Fling Management Committee. Initial discussions were initiated through two meetings with the artistic community. A mixed response was received resulting in no clear aspiration to manage the facility.

 

Dumfries & Galloway Chamber of Commerce contracted with Austin Hart Project Management (in partnership with Sharon Glendinning) in October 2009 to provide project development support with the Showcase Dumfries project, which aimed to create a business centre in Dumfries which would provide an environment for the development of artists and craft makers and enhance the town centre.

 

Below is a letter from Austin Hart Project Management (in partnership with Sharon Glendinning) refering to the Showcase consultation and the 'Project Development Support draft report' created. There is a link at the bottom of the page where you can download the full report.

 

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Dear Consultee

 

Thank you for participating in the consultation exercise for the Showcase Dumfries project last year. Around 60 people were consulted, from a broad range of private, public and voluntary sector backgrounds. We spoke to about 35 individual artists and makers as well as representative groups of the creative industries. We also consulted funding bodies, politicians, gallery operators and decision makers in regional and national organisations. We have now submitted our report and its conclusions to our client, Dumfries & Galloway Chamber of Commence.  The Chamber have asked us to contact all those involved in the consultation to provide information and feedback.

 

The main aim for D&G Chamber of Commerce was to identify a suitable town centre property for purchase and refurbishment. After a couple of 'false starts' the Chamber is now confident that a sale is imminent and progress can be made with the refurbishment. An announcement will be made shortly confirming details.  Following initial positive discussions, Dumfries & Galloway Arts Association have agreed to work with the Chamber of Commerce to further develop the Showcase Dumfries project.

 

The development of the project will be based on the consultation exercise. This produced a wide range of views about the role of the Showcase Dumfries project in the development of both Dumfries as a regional centre and in relation to the Cultural Strategy. The responses were based on the prepared questions, and due to the nature of the project there were many additional views expressed by consultees. The following is a summary of the key findings:

  • The Showcase Dumfries project could make a significant contribution to delivering regional priorities as detailed in the economic, cultural and tourism strategies.
  • It could also provide a stepping stone to the planned Cultural Centre for Dumfries.
  • There was a very positive reaction to the concept of a new venue in Dumfries town centre, which provides an outlet for the creative industries and a new reason to visit the town centre, particularly in the early evening.
  • The Showcase Dumfries project is not Gracefield; it should take advantage of a central location and not replicate Gracefield.
  • The Showcase Dumfries project cannot meet all expectations. It will have to focus on a defined set of activities. These remain to be determined.
  • There is evidence of demand for workshop space at affordable prices.
  • For the project to be successful, it needs a champion.
  • There is some support from the creative industries who will determine supply.
  • There is general concern about sustainability and ownership of the project.

 

A copy of our report can be accessed from the Chamber's website - http://www.dgchamber.co.uk/current-projects/showcase-dumfries.

 

Thank you once again for your contribution.