Out of the Blue is excited to announce the opening of Out of the Blue Abbeymount Studios, a multi-discipline creative space located at the top of Easter Road.

The studios offer 24 hour access to 513 square metres of space dedicated to creation and imagination. The facilities include purpose built workshops with tools and equipment for woodwork, fashion and textile design, ceramics and printmaking. Other art forms are also encouraged and Out of the Blue hopes to expand the workshop facilities in the future.

It is estimated that once established Out of the Blue Abbeymount Studios will provide a source of income for over 100 artists and makers, with over 1000 people participating in classes each year.

Abbeymount Studios Manager Julie Laerkholm explains: “The multidisciplinary workshops are what makes this space special. For example, it means that a printmaker can be using our wood workshop to build a screen, and later go to the print studio and use it for screen printing. I think it is essential for artists to have a workshop space where they can be a bit messy or noisy – not all artforms are quiet and pretty as you might imagine.”

Out of the Blue’s vision is to establish a hub for artists and to connect the creative world in Edinburgh by providing a space where beginners attending classes can meet professional resident artists and hobbyists members.

Abbeyhill is already known to be a creative part of Edinburgh and Out of the Blue works towards tying Abbeymount Studios in with the other five Out of the Blue art venues in town.
“Out of the Blue signed a lease in December last year after the former resident arts organisation ceased trading. It is a key part of Out of the Blue’s ethos to keep arts at the heart of Edinburgh and seeing an arts community let down and a space closing down we needed to take action.” explains Julie.

Rob Hoon, Manager of Out of the Blue, says “Out of the Blue Abbeymount Studios will contribute to the area’s economy, creation of place, and community. It is another example of Out of the Blue’s ability to strategically reuse Edinburgh’s building infrastructure to establish much needed creative space for employment and participatory educational and recreational activity, to contribute significantly to Edinburgh’s vibrancy.”

This project has been made possible with funding from Creative Scotland and Social Investment Scotland and with support from Creative Edinburgh, Craft Scotland, Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations Council and the City of Edinburgh Council.

“It has been four intense months of heavy building works, refurbishments and administrative acrobatics supported by some of the biggest arts institutions in Scotland. We have been working around the clock, but it has all paid off. We are now ready to invite artists and makers inside and I cannot wait to see this place buzzing with activity and creation!” tells Julie.

Artists wishing to see the space can book online for Tuesdays 2pm and Wednesday 5pm viewing slots at http://www.outoftheblue.org.uk/sharedstudiospacesatabbeymountstudios

—

Contact

For further information and photos please contact Julie Laerkholm

Julie Laerkholm, Abbeymount Studios Manager
Abbeymount Studios ▫ 2 Easter Road ▫ Edinburgh EH7 5AN
Out of the Blue Drill Hall ▫ 36 Dalmeny Street ▫ Edinburgh EH6 8RG
Email: julie.laerkholm@outoftheblue.org.uk
Mobile: 0743 629 2533

Facebook (Out of the Blue Abbeymount Studios): https://www.facebook.com/ootbabbeymount
Twitter (Out of the Blue Abbeymount Studios): https://twitter.com/ootbabbeymount
Web (Out of the Blue) www.outoftheblue.org.uk

About Out of the Blue
Out of the Blue Arts and Education Trust is based in the Out of the Blue Drill Hall in Dalmeny Street, Edinburgh. Our vision is that Edinburgh becomes a creative, participative city in which everyone is able to access the spaces and resources they require to pursue their own creativity, no matter who they are and what form it may take.
Our mission is to provide affordable and appropriate spaces, resources, projects and opportunities for the residents of Edinburgh to be creative. We seek to make this diversity of creativity more visible and in doing so, support the creation of cultural, social and economic value within the city.