A prime office location for a creative industries tenant is becoming available at South Block this Spring 2026. The space would be suited to architecture firms or design agencies looking for a contemporary setting within a heritage building in Merchant City.

A late Victorian former steamie and garment factory, South Block was taken over by Wasps in 2011 to establish studio and office provision for Glasgow’s art and design community. Over 150 freelancers and businesses are currently based there.

Office 403 is located on the fourth floor of South Block. The space benefits from sweeping natural light and large sash windows throughout. Historical features include exposed brick walls and a compass window on the corner which faces onto King Street and Osborne Street. The space is majority open plan, with full-height partitions splitting up the main office area to create break-out space.

For the brochure on the space and who to contact about arranging a viewing, view our brochure below.

In December, the team at Wasps was delighted to be the recipient of the award for Best Creative Workspaces Provider 2025 from Scottish Enterprise.

Including travel planning and tree surgery, performing arts and golf tours, entertainment and events, and a myriad more, SME News and Scottish Enterprise presented a selection of companies and their teams who are keeping Scotland at the very cutting edge of many sectors. Click here for the full press release and more information about the winners.

In the run up to the festive season, we want to make you aware of our opening hours and when we will be closed for Christmas and New Year’s. Please note the following:

All offices, galleries and receptions will close at 5pm on Thursday 18 December 2025, and will reopen on Monday 5 January – with the exception of our receptions at The Briggait and Inverness Creative Academy which will additionally open on Monday 22 and Tuesday 23 December only.

Tenants still have 24/7 access to their studio/workspace over the Christmas period. In the event of an emergency at a Wasps building, you can contact the on-call Property Manager on 0141 553 5890.

Artists based at different buildings across Scotland are hosting open studios events this winter.

Participating artists from Riverside House in Edinburgh are Libby Mitchell, Ewa Piotrowska-Baxter, Simon Rivett, Victoria Rose Ball, Lou Davis, Xingyu Tao, Jenny Mason, Graeme Swanson, Moray Millar, Alexander Horsburgh, Luke Vinnicombe, Sherry Wang, Allison Duncan, Martha Duncan, Jenny McLaren, Nicola Galloway, Douglas Fraser and Denise Gibson.

At The Steeple in Newburgh, seven resident artists are hosting open studios, including two new faces – Caryll Tyson and Sarah Morton. Weavers, blacksmiths, potters and painters are amongst those participating.

Hanson Street’s Parade Artists collective are hosting their annual makers market for one week at the studios facility in Dennistoun. Swing by the building’s ground floor Project Space between 22 and 30 November (10am–4pm daily) to shop from the many ceramicists, glass makers, painters, weavers and printmakers based out of Hanson Street. There will also be a pop-up café selling bakes and hot drinks (only at weekends) alongside around 40 artists and makers’ stalls.

Patriothall’s artist community are hosting a one-day event, with tapestry artist Fiona Hutchison, ceramicist Tokes Sharif and painter Elaine Spiers taking part.

The close-knit group of artists at Cannonwalls and Claverhouse in Kirkcudbright are hosting a one-day open studios event to celebrate the holidays. Textile artists, jewellers, painters and photographers are among those hosting.

The artist collective based at Perth Creative Exchange is coming together for their annual winter event on 6 and 7 December. They will be hosting an open studios event, festive market, exhibition and pop-up cafe. Both artist tenants and independent makers from across Perthshire will be in attendance.

This Autumn, Wasps is collaborating with Glasgow Art Club to host a group exhibition of work by Glasgow and West of Scotland-based artists with studios at Wasps buildings.

Called The Bigger Picture, the brief for the open call was simple: if it fits through the door, the work is eligible. The exhibition includes painting, printmaking, photography, sculpture and installation. Featuring artists include oil painter Jason Michael Bentley, printmaker Ashley Cook, oceanographer and artist Neil Banas, painter Karen Maxted and mixed media sculptor Karen Suzuki.

Join us for the opening on Thursday 23 October (6pm–8pm) at Glasgow Art Club to see the show, which spans the Mackintosh Gallery and the Walton Gallery.

A panel will select a winning artwork from the exhibition, with the chosen artist receiving a years’ membership with Glasgow Art Club.

The show will be open for visitors until 22 November. Click here for the Glasgow Art Club website and their opening times.

Nestled in the heart of the city, Glasgow Art Club is a vibrant private members’ club with a rich artistic legacy, having been founded in 1867. For generations, it’s been a creative hub for Glasgow’s most imaginative minds. In recent years the Club has sustained a lively calendar of events, from pastel demonstrations and wax-carving workshops to themed social evenings and print shows, engaging both members and the public.

Induction sessions have been scheduled for artists or enthusiasts interested in using the new community facilities at Perth Creative Exchange.

Local glass maker and Perthshire Artisan, Jane Drysdale of Berkley Glass, will be delivering introductory sessions to the Glass Kiln. The sessions will include an introduction to the kiln itself, what it actually does, basic health and safety and equipment needed.

Paul Adair will lead the introductory sessions at the new darkroom. He has extensive experience of film photography and was a former professional darkroom technician before becoming curator of photography at Perth Art Gallery. There will be an opportunity to register an interest in future photography and darkroom workshops. You will get to handle a variety of film cameras from the humble Box Brownie to fully professional cameras in a variety of formats.

See below for the links to book:

Introduction to Film Photography

Sessions on 17 October and 1 November

Introduction to the Glass Kiln

Sessions on 23 October, 30 October and 6 November

The community assets are tools that members of the local community can use without the costs of a regular membership or rent. You only pay for what you use, for instance for the kilns, you will pay for the electricity used, and for the dark room a small fee towards the replenishment of chemicals used.

Wasps is partnering with Potfest this winter to host a new Glasgow event for a vibrant three day celebration of all things ceramic and clay.

As we begin curating events for our newly renovated Clydeside Halls at The Briggait, our aim is to select opportunities that will most benefit our tenants – particularly through selling and exhibiting their work. We’re delighted that Potfest is the first in this new curated series.

We’re delighted to offer our tenants a 10% subsidy towards the cost of exhibiting at Potfest in the City – Glasgow, taking place at The Briggait on Friday 28, Saturday 29 & Sunday 30 November 2025.

This brand-new event brings Potfest’s inclusive and fair approach to the heart of Glasgow. Exhibitor spaces will be allocated by ballot to ensure equal opportunity for all, and The Briggait’s recently renovated main hall will be transformed into a vibrant, three-day celebration of ceramics and clay.

Each stand is 3m x 2m and comes with an “L”-shaped layout of two trestle tables and a chair. The space is designed to encourage visitor interaction beyond standard aisle browsing. Due to the city centre location, loading slots will be allocated, and support will be available on-site to help with setup and breakdown.

Spaces are limited to just 72 exhibitors, and there will also be a Potfest-style competition (with a twist!) and a Friday night social with a vessel swap.

To receive your 10% Wasps subsidy, please apply for your stand with Potfest on the link here by midnight on Friday 3rd October 2025. If you are successful, please let us know and we will reimburse the discount.

Eleven professional artists and makers based at Cannonwalls and Claverhouse in Kirkcudbright will come together this autumn to showcase their work in the Autumn Show at the Harbour Cottage Gallery, running from 29 September to 11 October 2025.

The exhibition offers a rare opportunity to see a vibrant mix of practices and unique pieces from the town’s creative community, all in one venue. Visitors can explore the diverse talents of the Kirkcudbright-based artists and makers, many of whom usually open their studios at Cannonwalls and Claverhouse by appointment only.

“We are an incredibly harmonious group at the moment with a great team atmosphere in our studio spaces, so it makes sense to create another touch point with our community in the much-loved, iconic Harbour Cottage Gallery. Usually our studios are open by appointment only, so to see all of our work gathered in one venue will be a real treat,” said one of the tenants.

Drawn to Kirkcudbright for its reputation as the ‘Artists’ Town’, Wasps has supported creativity here since 2010, when the linked townhouse conversion of Cannonwalls and Claverhouse at 117 High Street was transformed into fourteen studios. Today, the studios remain a vital resource at the heart of Kirkcudbright’s cultural life.

This Friday 12 September marks the 20^th anniversary of Langstane Place studios, a vibrant artist studio complex located in Aberdeen city centre.

With the support of the Scottish Arts Council Capital Lottery Fund, Aberdeen City Council, and Scottish Enterprise Grampian, Wasps acquired and redeveloped the building in 2005, creating a permanent home for the city’s artists, a first of its kind in Aberdeen.

A former print works just off Union Street, the building was transformed by Wasps Studios – Scotland’s largest provider of creative spaces – into a vibrant hub for Aberdeen’s artistic community. Today, it holds 32 artist studios and, more recently, a ground-floor gallery that further strengthens its role as a cultural landmark.

Situated within the Bon Accord–Crown Street Conservation Area, Langstane Place is part of an important early 19th-century development that reflects Aberdeen’s historic growth. The building has a long creative legacy, from corset makers and painters in the 1860s to The Langstane Press, which operated there from 1947 until 1998. Its name derives from the ‘Lang Stane,’ an ancient boundary stone – possibly a remnant of a Bronze Age circle or mile marker—still preserved at the end of the street and recorded on an 18th-century map of Aberdeen

Wasps Studios’ ability to purchase buildings allows them to hold spaces permanently for artists to feel safe and secure in their workspaces.

Painter Joe Fan, with a studio at Langstane Place since 2005, has said of his tenure: “I’ve been with Wasps since the beginning of time, first at the Station Hotel in Aberdeen, then two other locations before ending up at Langstane Place. It’s the warmest and most civilised studio that I’ve worked in. I spend more time there than at home.”

Keith Byres, painter and the building’s tenant representative for many years, has said of his time at Langstane Place: “I’ve been involved with Wasps in Aberdeen since its inception in the early 1980s. During this time and with affordable space for artists being a premium, we had to rely on short-term lets, which wasn’t an ideal situation. Thankfully, in 2005 we moved into our permanent home at Langstane and this has given me the time, space and opportunity to develop my practice as a painter and the chance to cross paths with so many talented artists.”

To mark the 20-year milestone, Wasps and resident artists have organised a special anniversary exhibition featuring work created within the studios across the years. The show includes paintings, textiles, prints and mixed media, highlighting the diversity and creativity fostered at Langstane Place.

The exhibition will run from 12 September to 3 October, open Thursday–Sunday, 11am–4pm, at Langstane Gallery on the ground floor of the studio building. The artists will be invigilating the show, making it a perfect opportunity for visitors to meet them in person.

As part of the anniversary celebration, Wasps commissioned a new artwork by Langstane Place-based printmaker Jonathan Comerford. Titled Ladders to Success, the piece is on display in the window of Langstane Gallery. It reflects the many paths that artists take in pursuit of creative growth, and the complexities, challenges, and determination that define a career in the arts.

Lorraine Taylor, an artist based at Langstane Place since 2012, shared: “I have been a tenant at Langstane Place for around 15 years, and I feel so lucky to have my studio right in the heart of the city centre. It’s great to be able to have my own space to work in alongside other like-minded artists. We can choose to be alone but know that there’s others there.”

Catriona Platten, a painter who has had a studio at Langstane Place since 2020, said of her experience: “Having a studio within an artist community has been deeply beneficial to my practice. It offers a balance between the private intensity of painting and the shared energy of collective creativity. Being part of a community has also created opportunities for visibility, collaboration and friendship.”

The Scottish Contemporary Art Network team visited Inverness Creative Academy this week, as part of their ongoing work to connect the artist community with Scotland’s decision makers, to host a visit with local MSP Emma Roddick.

The Wasps team showed SCAN and Emma Roddick MSP around the facility, and met with Alice Prentice of Isle of Riso – the first risography studio in the Scottish Highlands – and Iona Gibson of Highland Zine Bothy – a zine library for the region.

Emma – MSP for Inverness and Nairn – said of her time at the building: ‘The vast creativity being housed at Inverness Creative Academy is incredible, and my team and I left very inspired to think about how best to support this work and get involved.’

Photography by Alex Williamson.

The artists and makers based at Perth Creative Exchange are hosting their annual Winter seasonal market this December, and are inviting applications from those interested in taking part. The event is open to established and emerging makers.

Th market event will take place on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 December, with many of the artists based there also opening their studios for visitors to see inside.

The deadline to apply to the open call for the Winter Market is Thursday 4 September.

Click here for the application for and further information. This is a selected/curated show and final decisions will be made by mid-September.

If you have any questions or have trouble with the form, please contact the artist organisers on email: creativeexchangeperth@gmail.com.

Once Glasgow’s bustling fish market, The Briggait has been beautifully reimagined as a unique location for a range of memorable events including trade shows and weddings.

An A-listed building with a combination of Victorian and contemporary architecture, this iconic riverside venue now pulses with Glasgow’s artistic energy, with a thriving, inclusive community. This is a unique context for your event, and supports Wasps to provide creative spaces to over 1,000 people across Scotland.

With restoration of The Briggait now complete, the new Clydeside Halls are available for hire, alongside the existing Bridgegate Hall.

For more information on our spaces at The Briggait, and who to contact if you’d like to arrange a visit, please see our brochure below.

We are pleased to share that a number of Wasps buildings across Scotland will be featured in this year’s Doors Open Days programme.

Inverness Creative Academy, Perth Creative Exchange and The Briggait (Glasgow) will all be taking part in this celebration of architectural heritage.

Dates and times are:

Perth Creative Exchange, Stormont Street, PH1 5NW

Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 September (10am–5pm)

No booking required.

The Briggait, 141 Bridgegate, G1 5HZ

Thursday 18 and Friday 19 September (tours begin at 11am and 1pm)

Booking required. Click here for the Eventbrite.

Inverness Creative Academy, Stephens Street, IV2 3JP

Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 September (10am–4pm)

No booking required.

Wasps is excited to share the news of a city-wide Open Studios event in Dundee this September, with jewellers based at Meadow Mill featuring in the line up.

This September, Dundee Open Studios: The Jewellery Edition will bring together 22 jewellers across 10 venues for the city’s first dedicated jewellery open studios event. Taking place across two weekends, 20–21 and 27–28 September 2025, the event gives the public a rare opportunity to step inside 10 venues across the city – from shared workshops and independent studios to retail spaces – and discover the fascinating world of contemporary jewellery. Click here for the event’s map. Participating jewellers from Meadow Mill are Joanne MacFadyen, Scarlett Erskine, Anne Watson and Dundee Community Craft.

Visitors can expect to see the full spectrum of contemporary jewellery practice: from one-off pieces and bespoke remodelling, to design-led collections sold in galleries, shops, and high-end craft markets. It’s an opportunity to meet jewellers at all stages of their careers, from recent graduates to established makers, and experience first-hand how jewellery is designed, crafted, and brought to life. Many participants will offer live demonstrations, talks, and even jewellery-making workshops for those keen to try their hand at the craft. Each venue will reflect the individuality of the jewellers working there, offering a unique insight into their processes and inspirations, highlighting the skill, time, and imagination that goes into every piece of jewellery.

“This event is about more than just opening our doors,” says co-organiser Islay Spalding (jeweller and founder of Double Door Studios). “It’s about showing the public what goes into making, inspiring new generations of jewellers, and encouraging skilled tradespeople like stone setters and engravers to base themselves here. Our long-term vision is for Dundee to become a recognised jewellery hub, a kind of ‘Hatton Garden’ of Scotland but with its own design-led identity.” Dundee has a long-standing reputation for producing creative talent, particularly through Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design (DJCAD). Many of the participating jewellers are graduates who have chosen to stay and build their businesses in the city, while others have been drawn here by its thriving creative community. The collective goal is clear: to put Dundee firmly on the map as a jewellery hub – a place where jewellers can build careers, trade specialists can thrive, and visitors can discover the extraordinary.

The project is led by jewellers Islay Spalding and Katie New, supported by Creative Dundee’s Amps Network Community Ideas Fund. 3000 limited edition Riso-printed maps have been designed and printed for the event and are available for free to pick up at locations around the city including V&A Dundee, DCA and The McManus. It marks the beginning of a wider ambition to grow Dundee Open Studios into a city-wide celebration of all makers, artists, and designers in future years. “Open Studios are such a brilliant way to connect people with the craft happening on their doorstep. Dundee doesn’t yet have one, even though the surrounding regions have thriving open studios events.” says co-organiser Katie New (jeweller, educator and owner of The Orangery Workshop). “We hope this event strengthens connections in our city and helps more people appreciate the value of the work being made here. As a UNESCO City of Design, Dundee is ready for this, and we want jewellery to be the seed from which something larger grows, bringing in more makers and disciplines each year.”

The final weekend also coincides with Doors Open Days, when venues across Scotland open up to the public, making it a perfect time to explore Dundee’s creative and cultural spaces.

The Wasps team is very pleased to announce the availability of new community assets now open at Perth Creative Exchange, delivered in partnership with Perth UNESCO City of Craft and Folk.

A ceramics kiln, a glass kiln and a photography darkroom will be open for makers to use on a pay-for-what-you-use basis, meaning users only pay for the cost of electricity for kiln firings and to replenish materials in the darkroom. Community Assets are an invitation to community members to engage in craft making, and the team looks forward to seeing this new provision in action.

Glass Kiln: Using a specialist glass kiln, users can explore numerous glass making techniques from fusing to annealing. With two technical advisors on hand, you will be able to push your creativity and further explore the versatility of glass making.

Ceramics Kiln: This specialist ceramics kiln will allow users to fire ceramics and glazes. With an in house technical advisor who works as a ceramicist on hand for enquiries, you’ll be able to further your ceramics knowledge and create your next pieces.

Photography Dark Room: This bespoke dark room is located right in the heart of Perth Creative Exchange. Made to measure, the dark room has everything you need to begin developing your own film and enlarging to various scales. With a specialist technical advisor on hand for inductions and enquiries, photographers can develop with confidence. 

These assets are tools that members of the local community can use without the costs of a regular membership or rent. You only pay for what you use, for instance for the kilns, you will pay for the electricity used, and for the dark room a small fee towards the replenishment of chemicals used.

As the UK’s first and only UNESCO City of Craft and Folk Art, Perth is a destination for craft. Being known as a ‘craftis toun’ as far back as medieval times, craft makers are still predominant in our contemporary cultural scene, craft is celebrated throughout the city including in the collections on display in Perth Museum and the current Glass exhibition at Perth Art Gallery.  

Wasps recently celebrated the fifth anniversary of Perth Creative Exchange becoming a home to artist studios, and creative industries as well as a cultural destination housing a gallery with a changing exhibition programme, and a business incubator space with the Perth Ideas Centre.  

This joint venture, funded by the UK Shared Prosperity fund and supported by Perth and Kinross Council, further embeds Perth Creative Exchange as a cultural venue in Perth city centre, but also works towards community engagement goals of our UNESCO designation. The funding from the UK Shared Prosperity fund, supported by Perth and Kinross Council, also covers the costs of technical advisors for each of the assets to ensure that users can have thorough safety inductions, but also so they can ask questions or share experiments to further creative innovation.  

While community access to kilns and dark rooms does exist across Scotland, the pay-for-what-you-use model, possible due to the funding leveraged, reduces financial barriers to entry by avoiding membership models, upfront purchasing costs, or space rental.  

Once you have had an induction, you can book in to use the assets whenever Perth Creative Exchange is open, which is Monday-Friday (9am-5pm) excluding public holidays. The assets are aimed at makers who have some experience in using these kinds of facilities. If you would like to use the Community Assets as part of a workshop to teach beginners, the team would love to hear from you! To book an induction or enquire about the Community Assets, please email: perthcommunityassets@gmail.com.

The Wasps team had the great pleasure of welcoming First Minister John Swinney to The Briggait in Glasgow this week.

It was a fantastic opportunity to highlight Wasps’ vital role in nurturing Scotland’s creative communities by providing artists and makers across the country with inspiring spaces to work. We were also proud to showcase our latest development – the Clydeside Market Halls – delivered with support from Glasgow City Council and the Scottish Government.

We are grateful to the First Minister for visiting this restored Glasgow landmark, and for recognising the crucial role that creative communities and beautifully restored heritage spaces like The Briggait play in enriching Scotland’s cultural life and supporting its economy.

Pictured (left to right): Wasps Interim CEO, Chris Cowie; Vice Chair of Wasps’ Board, Dame Seona Reid; First Minister, John Swinney; Wasps’ Funding and Partnerships Manager, Eddie White; and Wasps’ trustee and The Briggait artist tenant, Kayleigh Sarah McGuinness.

Wasps is offering discounted rates on our Isle of Skye residency space for any stays during 2025.

A former blackhouse in the village of Ollach, The Admiral’s House was donated to Wasps by the family of Vice Admiral Sir Roderick (Roddy) Macdonald KBE. The site is surrounded by stunning land and sea views. The closest town of Portree is a 15-minute drive away.

The Admiral’s House benefits from a remote village location, with three unique studios and lockable bedrooms, and a shared living room/dining space. Residents can potentially meet and connect with fellow artists that are also staying on-site at the same time.

Artists working in any medium can book the entire house at these discounted rates (not including £150 refundable deposit) for stays during the rest of 2025:

For 1 month: £4,000
For a fortnight: £2,200

For stays beyond 2025, or to book a single room, please contact residencies@waspsstudios.org.uk / 01463 572753.

The team at Wasps is very pleased to be partnering with Circular Arts Network for a materials swap event at Meadow Mill in Dundee.

Stop by on Thursday 12 June at the Meadow Mill Project Space between 11am and 2pm to meet Circular Arts Network and other artists to exchange materials.

Expect tables piled high with free materials for reuse — think fabric, timber, paper, frames, tubes, fixings, oddments and beautiful leftovers from exhibitions, theatre sets and studios. Come by, have a rummage, and take what you can use.

Got useful materials to donate? Bring them along! Or just come to meet fellow creatives and learn about how the Circular Arts Network (CAN) helps reduce waste in the arts.

We are now taking applications for stall holders to participate in the Summer Artists and Makers Markets in Inverness and Glasgow this August.

Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a novice seller new to the scene, the Wasps markets are a great opportunity to reach hundreds of visitors and potential buyers across two Scottish cities. We welcome applications from artisans creating unique prints, glassware, ceramics, homewares, textiles, paintings, clothing and everything in between.

We’re also adding a Friday evening event to The Briggait’s market run, as we’ve had a blast hosting it in Inverness and want to bring it to Glasgow this year.

Details for both events are:

Inverness Creative Academy
Friday 15 (4pm–8pm), Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 August (10am–4pm)

Click here to apply online.

The Briggait, Glasgow
Friday 22 (5pm–9pm), Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 August (11am–5pm)

Click here to apply online.

The deadline for both open calls is Sunday 22 June, 5pm.

We are pleased to share with you an update on our newest trustees, who join Wasps’ Board this month.

Kayleigh Sarah McGuiness is a visual artist with studio space at The Briggait. Her installation work is inspired by the heritage, materiality and landscapes that define her Scottish and Gaelic ancestral culture.

On starting as a Wasps trustee, Kayleigh said: ‘I’m really looking forward to supporting the team to build on the strength of the arts programme and help shape a more connected organisation that places greater emphasis on the core practical needs of artists. As a practising visual artist and current studio holder, I bring lived insight and ideas to the table. I also run my own non-profit social enterprise, so I’m keen to both contribute and learn, particularly around how larger organisations operate and how they can continue to evolve in ways that are meaningful and responsive to the artists they exist to serve.’

David Stewart is a property and compliance professional with 15 years of experience spanning housing, asset management and building standards across public, private and academic sectors. His is currently the Operations Manager for Building Compliance at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh.

David has said of his becoming a trustee, ‘I was drawn to the Wasps Board because I am passionate about how buildings function, evolve and support the people that use them. I believe that creative spaces are vital to cultural and community life, and I’m committed to ensuring they are safe, efficient, and sustainable. I’m particularly motivated by the challenge of helping Wasps achieve its net zero ambitions by 2045—through practical improvements, long-term planning, and innovative estate management that enhances both performance and accessibility.’

The Wasps team met with Tracy Gilbert MP on Thursday to showcase the latest addition to our Edinburgh studio provision, Granton Station.

The landmark former railway station within the Granton Waterfront Regeneration site has been transformed into a hub for artists and makers, with studios becoming available later this month. Members of Wasps’ management took the local MP on a tour of the building, and discussed the significance of having availability of studio spaces in the burgeoning Granton area.

By restoring a historic site to establish a vibrant hub of creativity, we’re not only preserving Granton’s heritage but also investing in the future of Scotland’s cultural economy. Wasps has long championed high-quality studio space for artists and makers across the country, and this latest development reflects our continued commitment to supporting the arts across Scotland.

We’re thrilled to announce the launch of Fragments of Reality, the inaugural exhibition in Wasps’ brand-new Cross Estate exhibition programme, opening this Friday, 9 May at South Block in Glasgow.

The new initiative, curated by Wasps’ Arts Programme Manager, brings together artists from across Wasps’ buildings throughout Scotland. The goal of this expansion of our current arts programme is to foster creative connections between artists that otherwise would not have been made. The Cross Estate series of events marks a new chapter in our mission to support and spotlight the vibrant talent within our network.

Fragments of Reality features the work of Stuart Jackson (based at Meadow Mill, Dundee) and Yelena Visemirska (based at Inverness Creative Academy). Each artist explores personal and expansive themes through their chosen media. Yelena Visemirska reflects on the emotional imprints of places she’s encountered in her travels. Her work invites viewers into the atmosphere of memory, shaped by the landscapes and moments that linger in the heart and mind. Stuart Jackson, a self-taught ceramicist with over 15 years of practice, presents large-scale figurative sculptures that weave together stories from modern history, evolutionary science, and ancient mythology.

Join us for the opening night on Friday 9 May from 5pm–8pm at South Block to experience the first instalment in this dynamic new programme.

2025 marks five fantastic years of Perth Creative Exchange!

The former primary school, transformed into an arts hub for the Perthshire region, was delivered by Wasps in partnership with Perth and Kinross Council. Now in its fifth year, the community based at the building spans over 50 artists and creative industries workers.

Wasps is proud to have established this location that fosters a wealth of creative practice by providing:

• 26 artist studio spaces
• 13 workspaces for creative industries
• the Famous Grouse Ideas Centre
• the Creative Business Incubation Space
• the Gannochy Project Space for exhibitions and events
• a bright, large workshop space
• staffed reception during office hours

We have lots of arts events and exhibitions in the calendar happening at Perth Creative Exchange to celebrate five years, so keep eyes peeled for details announced on the programme webpage.

We still have capacity for artists and creative innovators to join us in Perth, and you can find out what’s available by clicking here.

Thank you to Perth Creative Exchange-based illustrator Karen MacAllister for the stunning poster design, commissioned for the building’s fifth anniversary.

Wasps is proud to introduce high-quality artist studios at Granton Station, offering a unique opportunity for creatives to be part of Edinburgh’s dynamic Granton Waterfront regeneration. In response to demand from a broad range of art practices seeking studio space in Edinburgh, this transformation provides an inspiring new home for artists and makers. 

This landmark project is set within the city’s ambitious £1.3 billion redevelopment—one of Scotland’s most significant regeneration initiatives. Designed to foster a vibrant and sustainable coastal community, the initiative invests in cultural, residential, and green spaces, shaping Granton into a thriving hub of creativity and connection. 

The restoration of this historic B-listed former station honours its rich industrial heritage while reimagining it as a state-of-the-art creative space. Thoughtfully upgraded to modern standards, the facility features accessible amenities, high-performance insulation, and energy-efficient air source heat pumps—earning an EPC Energy Rating of A, the highest sustainability grade. 

By providing artist studios, Wasps is ensuring Granton Station remains a vital centre for artistic and cultural growth, supporting the area’s creative economy. We are excited to welcome artists into this beautifully revitalised space. 

In addition to studios, we offer office and fixed desk spaces for those in the creative industries. Don’t miss the chance to be part of this inspiring community! 

For availability and viewings, contact us at lettings@waspsstudios.org.uk or call 0141 553 5896. 

We are pleased to share a new artist commission that highlights Wasps’ building in Dundee; Meadow Mill Studios.

We approached Sarah Gillespie, a print maker originally from Dundee that held a space at Meadow Mill, to create a design that captures the building’s vibrancy. Combining traditional and modern techniques, Sarah used a map of Dundee with Meadow Mill in the centre to reflect the artist community’s reach across the city.

Meadow Mill is Wasps’ only building in Dundee, and serves upwards of 100 artists and designers with 58 studio spaces. Wasps currently has a number of studios – both self-contained and partitioned – available at Meadow Mill for artists looking to embed themselves into Dundee’s creative community.

Spaces range from 127ft² to 717ft², with inclusive rent prices starting at £175pcm for a partitioned space. Find out more about our available spaces at Meadow Mill by click here.

The Italianate arches that rise from a forgotten stretch of riverfront in the oldest part of Glasgow are about to reawaken. Overlooking the recently completed National Cycle Route 75, between the defunct City Union Bridge and the tangled web of crossings at the Clutha Bar, The Briggait has never looked better.

More than 50 years have passed since the former fish market turned its back on the river, abandoning this stretch of Clyde Street to cars, sporadic cyclists and stragglers from the High Court. But now, thanks to a £4.9 million restoration, the A-listed cluster of buildings is making a comeback.

The first building in the clutch of market halls was designed by architects Clarke and Bell and opened in 1873 with additional buildings added in 1889, 1903, and 1914. Modelled after Les Halles in Paris, each of the buildings cropped up around the Merchants’ Steeple, one of the last vestiges of Medieval Glasgow. The sharp pointed spire on the six-storey tower is one of the city’s oldest surviving structures, its enduring presence lingers in nearly every depiction of the River Clyde’s skyline. It’s a reminder of how key the awkward triangle of land containing The Briggait is to unlocking the Clydeside.

Read the full article by Marissa McWhirter on The Herald’s website here.

We are pleased to share a new commission from Riverside House-based artist Martha Duncan, which celebrates our latest studio provision in Edinburgh.

The Wasps team approached Martha to create a design that promotes the new building to artists and makers across Edinburgh, and creates a visual identity for Riverside House and its burgeoning community. The design has been shared digitally on Wasps’ socials and is due to be shared in a takeover with Creative Edinburgh’s Instagram on 24 March.

Since opening the building to visual artists and makers last year, studios over the sixth floors have been gradually filling up, seeing us reach 75% capacity as of mid-March 2025.

Riverside House has accessible studios with lift access, toilets on all floors, WiFi included, a bookable teaching/workshop space, heating and windows in all studios, parking on-site and 24/7 access. The building benefits from bus links to and from the city via Gorgie Road.

Studios available now on a monthly rolling contract! Spaces range from 160ft² to 370ft².

To find out what’s on offer at Riverside House, click here for the available spaces page.

We’re launching our Spring Clean Market event and welcome artists with a surplus of test prints, wonky ceramics or studio seconds, or makers that are experimenting with new materials or techniques.

We would like to encourage minimal waste of produce and provide an opportunity for buyers to grab a unique bargain at this new event. We will prioritise applications from those who are committed to a circular or zero waste economy through their practice. Wasps-based makers are also given priority.

Venue: 1873 Hall, The Briggait, 141 Bridgegate, G1 5HZ

Dates and times: Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 April (11am–5pm)

The deadline to apply is Monday 3 March, 5pm.

Full details of the event and how to submit your application can be found online here.

Wasps Studios has now completed a £4m construction project on The Briggait Clydeside Market Halls that will transform 1,200 sqm of derelict fish market halls into an exciting riverside destination for events, food and drink, markets, performances and exhibitions.

The project brings back into use the 1889 and 1904 market halls in this iconic ‘A’ listed building on Glasgow’s skyline. Along with the existing 1873 hall, this will return the oldest surviving collection of market halls in Scotland to public use for the first time in 50 years.

The project also offers exciting business opportunities. Wasps is currently looking for expressions of interest to find operators for the following:

• – A new café (74m2) with a prominent location on to Clyde Street, facing onto the river. The café is located within a new public entrance that restores the striking architectural features of the façade
• – The Corner Block: a new self-contained shell unit, on the corner of the Briggait with direct access onto Clyde Street. The double height 124m2 space has potential for food and drink, retail and other uses

Interested parties may apply for either or both opportunities.

The Briggait is already established as a vibrant hub and the completion of this project will reinforce its position as a cornerstone in Glasgow’s cultural landscape. We look forward to welcoming you to this amazing building. – Audrey Carlin, Chief Executive Officer

For expressions of interest, please get in touch with the Wasps Projects team on projects@waspsstudios.org.uk or call Head of Projects Kenneth Blackburn on 0141 553 5890 (est. 1004).

After a remarkable decade of leadership, our Chief Executive, Audrey Carlin, will be stepping down from her role.

Over the past ten years, she has guided Wasps through a period of unprecedented growth and evolution, leaving behind a resilient, self-sustaining organisation that continues to provide vital support to Scotland’s artistic community.

During her leadership Wasps developed eight new creative facilities across Scotland – including the award-winning Inverness Creative Academy and Perth Creative Exchange, securing over £20 million in grant funding, and increasing both the charity’s income and studio space provision for artists by 30%.

Wasps has also evolved as a self-sustaining organisation, and a national asset in a rapidly changing arts landscape. This financial resilience has been key in ensuring that Wasps continues to serve its community of artists by providing good quality studio and creative spaces.

Karen Anderson, Chair of the Wasps Board of Trustees, paid tribute to Audrey’s exceptional leadership: “Audrey has been a brilliant and inspiring leader. Under her guidance, Wasps has become a resilient, forward-thinking organisation that not only meets the needs of today’s artists but ensures the next generation will have the resources they need to thrive. We extend our deepest gratitude to Audrey and wish her every success in the future.”

Reflecting on her time at Wasps, Audrey said: “It has been a privilege to work for Wasps over the last decade. I am incredibly proud of the work we’ve done to move the organisation to a more financially robust basis. The transformation we’ve delivered across Scotland, through the repurposing of historic buildings for creative use, leaves an important legacy for Scotland’s creative community.”

Audrey will remain in post until early April and the recruitment of a new CEO for Wasps is now underway. For further updates and information about Wasps’ future, please stay connected through our website and social media channels.

Wasps is delighted to announce visual artist and Gray’s School of Art graduate Catherine Lily Mearns as the latest recipient of the SSA x Wasps Award.

Catherine was selected for their sculptural and 2D work that was featured in the SSA’s 126th annual exhibition. As the winner, Catherine is awarded an exhibition at The Briggait in Glasgow during the arts programme for 2025.

Speaking about the selection of Catherine as the awardee, Caitlin Callaghan (Project Coordinator – Arts) said: Catherine’s work was really a standout piece in the exhibition. The textures in their ceramics were entirely fascinating. The SSA Wasps Award is a solo exhibition for the artist in Glasgow, in this case our South Block Gallery. With this in mind, Catherine’s work was a perfect fit. Upon doing some research on the artist and their practice, we discovered Catherine also worked in painting. South Block really lends itself to artists who work across different mediums and I am so excited to see what Catherine does with the space.

We’re pleased to share with you the Wasps Studios Annual Review for 2023/2024.

In this document, we reflect on a year of resilience, despite the ongoing challenges faced by artists and the sector as a whole. The review highlights our achievements, including 71 exhibitions and 452 artists showcasing their work, as well as 2 new capital developments.

Thank you to the Wasps-based makers from across Scotland that we spoke to about their experience of the year and for showcasing their practice for us: Colin and Martha Duncan at Riverside House, Edinburgh; Jay Briggs at Inverness Creative Academy; Kayleigh Sarah McGuinness at The Briggait, Glasgow; Laura Derby at Cannonwalls and Claverhouse, Kirkcudbright; Ade Adesina at Langstane Place, Aberdeen and Darren Osborne at South Block, Glasgow. Their voices paint a picture of our activities and the Wasps community as a whole. And a special shout out to designer Kat Scott, based at Inverness Creative Academy, for creating the design for this year’s annual review.

Wasps’ newest studio provision in Edinburgh is now open, with spaces available for artists looking to join this newly established creative community.

Group viewings have been organised for:

• – Saturday 7 December (tours beginning at 10am and 11am)
• – Thursday 9 January (tours beginning at 11am and 1pm)

• To let us know that you’re coming to a viewing, please click here.

There is also a bookable Teaching Space on the second floor, which is open for workshops, presentations and meetings. Click here for the rates card and how to book.

Since Wasps acquired Riverside House, we have been converting the former office block in Gorgie into spacious, warm and well-lit and accessible studios. These are now available to rent. Spaces range from 166sqft (starting at £277 per calendar month) up to 377sqft (starting at £629 per calendar month).

Riverside House is located in the Gorgie-Dalry area in the west of Edinburgh on Gorgie Road, with bus stops to and from the city just outside. The closest railway station is Slateford, which is a 15 minute walk away. The building is fully accessible, with lift access and wheelchair accessible facilities on each floor. Studios at the back of the building face onto the Water of Leith, and those at the front face onto the new residential development and Gorgie Road. Two teaching spaces have been created, which artist tenants can book for workshops.

Artists based at Langstane Place in Aberdeen are preparing to launch their new exhibition and project space, Langstane Gallery, next weekend alongside their Open Studios. With thanks to the Langstane Place tenants who led this project, supported by Wasps.

Details are:
Preview event: Friday 6 December, 6pm–8pm

Open: Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 December, 10am–5pm

Be the first to see Langstane Gallery in use, as it hosts an exhibition of works by the participating artists from the building. Mingle with the painters, ceramicists, weavers, printmakers and sculptors based at Wasps’ building in Aberdeen.

Among those opening up their creative spaces for the weekend are: Charlotte Campbell, Katarina Chomova, Jonathan Comerford, Wilma Dunbar, Lynne Hocking, Sandra Johnston, Mariia Nechkaliuk, Catriona Platten, Ronald Plowman, Lorraine Taylor and Lotta Ward.

Keith Brown MSP hosted a Scottish Parliament reception for Wasps Studios-based artists, the charity’s supporters and its trustees where he acknowledged ‘their exceptional contribution’ to the cultural and economic health of the nation.

A member of the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee, he said creative industries are an essential part of Scotland’s identity and economy, generating £4.4 billion annually.

He said the Scottish Government had invested in cultural regeneration throughout Scotland with the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund. “Support which I know Wasps has been able to turn into fantastic community and creative hubs for artists and makers such as the wonderful Inverness Creative Academy, Perth Creative Exchange and the soon to be completed Briggait Clydeside Market Halls.”

Mr Brown added: “The exceptional contribution of Wasps’ 1000 artists and creatives and their reach and impact on local communities is important for the cultural and economic health of the nation.”

He acknowledged the challenges the sector faces in a post Covid world.

Wasps chair Karen Anderson and Chief Executive Audrey Carlin said energy price rises and the increased cost of running and maintaining buildings were making it hard for some artists.

Karen said: “There are big challenges for artists vulnerable to the cost of living. It is important we work to make buildings more affordable and support more fragile practices.”

At the reception in the Scottish Parliament’s Fleming Room, Audrey and Karen highlighted the Wasps manifesto entitled Scotland’s Culture Matters: Support Our Artists. This calls for UK and Scottish Governments to help reduce costs for tenant artists by scrapping the punitive 20% VAT on maintaining heritage buildings and supporting the drive to Net Zero by 2025.

Audrey said that while highlighting the challenges it was important to celebrate the successes.

“In the past year we provided studio spaces to over 1,000 artists, supported 25 arts charities, and provided space for 81 creative businesses across Scotland.

“Our Wasps Arts Enterprise programme, which has grown to become self-funded, supported 450 artists through 76 events, exhibitions, and markets. Notably, we saw £49,000 in sales for our artists through Wasps-supported exhibitions, making it our most successful year yet.

“Overall, we have created eight new facilities for creatives across Scotland in the past nine years, investing over £4.5m from Scottish Government’s RCGF, to leverage in a total of £20m in funding. This is in line with demand for what we do, by continuing to grow across many locations in Scotland.

“We have worked very hard to provide secure, stable and sustainable creative working spaces throughout Scotland. We know that the security of having a lease for a space can be invaluable for some artists and creative organisations who are often having to move from one meanwhile space to another.

“Being able to grow and provide these secure spaces has allowed us to support more digitally based creative practices, a fast-growing sector and one characterised by micro businesses often working internationally. We welcome the support of the Scottish Government’s TechScaler Programme which now has a base in our Inverness building and is supporting many of our creative industry businesses across the country to develop and grow.”

Audrey said none of this would have been possible without supporters. She said: “We would be unable to deliver any of these transformative projects without the support of our wonderful partners. The Scottish Government, HES, NLHF, AHF, Landfill Funders, Councils, private individuals and foundations – thank you all for the continued confidence you have shown in Wasps’ ability to transform and regenerate derelict historic buildings to create vibrant, facilities for artists, makers and creative industries, in the heart of communities across Scotland. “

Our Holyrood stars

The stars of the show at the reception were our inspirational artists. Laura Derby, Ade Adesina and Kayleigh McGuinness took centre stage at the Scottish Parliament as they talked how the Wasps family has supported them on their artistic journeys.

Laura Derby is a rug tufter and fibre-based artist working out of her studio at Wasps’ Cannonwalls and Claverhouse in Kirkcudbright. She paints and sculpts with yarn to make unique rugs, wall hangings and furniture. Laura was awarded The Inches Carr Foundation Emerging Maker Award 2022 and The Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere Certification Mark in 2021 in acknowledgement of the origin and sustainability of Laura’s work and emphasis of her use of 100% British Wool and upcycled local materials.

‘So much value in being a Wasps tenant’

Laura said: “The difference of being able to work in a warm studio is huge. There is so much value in being a tenant of such a high-profile organisation such as Wasps. That helped me gain valuable exposure with an exhibition at Kirkcudbright National Gallery and my first solo exhibition, Hidden Line, at Wasps’ Granton Station.”

Kayleigh is a visual artist based in Glasgow, with a studio at Wasps’ headquarters, The Briggait. Heritage plays a major role in Kayleigh’s work as she has recently spent time travelling to places across Scotland that her women ancestors would have lived to explore the natural materials, sounds and space. She was commissioned by Wasps last year to lead on The Briggait’s 150th anniversary, which included a time capsule project made by her fellow artists at the building, and printmaking workshops with local school children.

‘Wasps gave me a career springboard’

Kayleigh said: “I moved into my Wasps studio three years ago. Connecting with other tenants in The Briggait has been so inspiring. You feel part of a community, part of a family.

“Being with Wasps gave me a springboard to jobs and opportunities that I never had before. Wasps is such an important place – without it none of what I have achieved over the last few years would have been possible.”

‘Wasps is my place of joy’

Ade Adesina is a visual artist and printmaker based at Wasps’ Langstane Place, Aberdeen. He is a Royal Scottish Academician, Member of the Royal Glasgow Institute of Fine Arts, Associate Member of the Royal Society of Printmakers and Etchers, and Member of the

London Group. His most recent accolade is the 2023 Mario Avati Printmaking Award, given at the Académie des Beaux-Arts in Paris. His work is exhibited around the world, including two pieces which feature at the Scottish Parliament.

“I have travelled from Nigeria, to London to Aberdeen. I found an inspiring space and environment when I moved to Wasps. Without Wasps I would not be where I am today. Wasps is my home, my living room, my place of joy.”

Gairm Fosgailte – Ceann-latha airson iarrtasan: 5f air 15 Samhain 2024

’S e prògram ealain lèirsinneach co-obrachail a th’ ann am Buaile a thèid a lìbhrigeadh thairis air trì ionadan ann am meadhan baile Inbhir Nis. Bidh Eden Court, Taigh-tasgaidh & Gailearaidh Ealain Inbhir Nis agus Acadamaidh Chruthachail Inbhir Nis ag obair còmhla a thaisbeanadh raon farsaing de dh’obraichean bho luchd-ealain tro shealladh nan Gàidheal.

’S e gairm fhosgailte a tha seo do luchd-ealain a tha a’ cruthachadh ealain lèirsinneach bho thaobh shealladh nan Gàidheal, gus an cuid obrach a thaisbeanadh agus a reic mar phàirt den phrògram ealain ioma-làrach seo.

Thèid an taisbeanadh seo a chumail sa Ghearran/Màrt 2025 aig Acadamaidh Chruthachail Inbhir Nis agus Eden Court mar phàirt den phrògram Buaile agus bidh e a’ tachart mun aon àm ri Seachdain na Gàidhlig.  

Tha sinn ag amas air taic a thoirt don uimhir de luchd-ealain sa ghabhas tron chothrom seo. Ach, air sgàth na h-àiteachan a tha rim faighinn, thèid prìomhachas a thoirt do dh’obair a ghabhas crochadh air balla agus feumar obair a bhith deiseil airson a chrochadh, le 2 fhàinne-D air nuair a thèid e lìbhrigeadh.

Ma thèid gabhail ris an obair agad airson a chuir a-steach bidh sinn ann an conaltradh ro 29 Samhain gus an àireamh de phìosan agus lìbrigeadh aontachadh. Thoir an aire gum bi e an urra ris an neach-ealain lìbhrigeadh na h-obrach bhon làrach aontaichte a chuir air dòigh agus pàigheadh.

Faodaidh tu seo a lìonadh ann an Gàidhlig no Beurla.

Le taic bho Maoin nan Ealain Gàidhlig

~

Submission Open Call – Application Deadline: 15 November, 5pm

Buaile is a collaborative visual arts programme to be delivered across three city centre venues in Inverness.  Eden Court, Inverness Museum & Art Gallery and Wasps’s Inverness Creative Academy together will present a wide range of works from artists showcasing visual art from a Gaelic perspective.

This is an open call for visual artists who create work through a Gaelic perspective, to present and sell their work as part of this innovative multi-site art programme.

The open call exhibition will take place in February/March 2025 at Inverness Creative Academy and Eden Court as part of the wider Buaile programme and will coincide with Seachdain na Gàidhlig (World Gaelic Week).

We aim to support as many artists as possible through this opportunity. However, because of the nature of the spaces available wall based work will be prioritised and works will need to be delivered ready to hang, fitted with 2 D-rings.

If your work is accepted for submission we will be in touch by 29 November to agree the number of pieces and delivery details. Please be aware that it will be the artist’s responsibility to arrange and pay for the delivery of the work.

Submissions are accepted in Gaelic or English in written or spoken format.

Apply online via this form. If you would prefer to submit in a spoken format, please answer the questions below and send a video clip or sound file of no longer than 5 minutes to gallery@eden-court.co.uk.

With support from Maoin nan Ealain Gàidhlig

We are pleased to share the new Wasps arts programme 2025 open calls, available to Wasps-based artists across the network. Artists working in any discipline are welcome to apply to our regular open call opportunity, and our new cross estate exhibition opportunity.

The regular open call opportunity is open to all current Wasps tenants working in a variety of mediums. There is no requirement for the work to be a new project. We invite proposals for both new and existing projects. Priority is given to tenants who have not yet been a part of our programme and those who demonstrate connection between work and space in their application. Wasps is on a journey to net zero. We therefore welcome proposals which align with our ambitions and values of sustainability and we particularly encourage applications from artists who create work with related themes, or those who prioritise sustainable practice within the making of their work. 15 exhibition slots of varying lengths are available across 4 of our gallery spaces – The Briggait (Glasgow), South Block (Glasgow), Perth Creative Exchange and Inverness Creative Academy.

Click here for the online form for the regular open call.

For the cross estate open call, three exhibitions will take place in 2025; one in Glasgow/South Block, one in Perth Creative Exchange and one in The Assembly Hall of Inverness Creative Academy. Artists should apply individually and those selected will be matched up into exhibiting groups by a panel of Wasps staff based on various subjects including work themes, materials, and what the artists wish to gain or build on professionally. This open call has been created for those looking to collaborate and meet link-minded artists from other buildings across Scotland.

Click here to access the online form for the cross estate open call.

The deadline for both open calls is Fri 1 November, 12pm.

We are pleased to share with you the eagerly anticipated open call for the Wasps Winter Artists and Makers Markets in Inverness and Glasgow.

Applications are now open for both Inverness Creative Academy and The Briggait events. Our markets are open to all creatives whether you’re a seasoned pro or this is your first market. Dates can be found below along with the links to take you to the application form for each market. The deadline for applying is Friday 4 October, 5pm.

Inverness Creative Academy: Friday 29 November (4pm–8pm), Saturday 30 November and Sunday 1 December (10am–4pm). Apply online now.

The Briggait (Glasgow): Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 December (11am–4pm). Apply online now.

Artists based at Perth Creative Exchange are hosting a festive market this 30 November and 1 December.

Likeminded artists and makers can apply to take part in the market to sell their wares alongside the tenants of the building. The deadline to apply to take part is Wednesday 11 September. Click here for the online form.

Accompanying the winter market, Perth Creative Exchange will once again be opening up 12 of its fascinating artist & maker studios to the public for the last long weekend of Perthshire Open Studios Festival 2024. Come along and discover how things are created in professional working studios, buy work from the artists and see demonstrations.

A beautiful taster exhibition showcasing the work of Perth Creative Exchange’s artists, in partnership with Perthshire Open Studios. Open weekdays 9am-5pm and over the Perthshire Open Studios weekend of September 7^th & 8^th.

Wasps is very pleased to be taking part in this year’s Doors Open Days Festival at our buildings in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Inverness.

Wasps’ buildings across the nation are taking part, with members of the team excited to show visitors around The Briggait (Glasgow), Granton Station (Edinburgh) and Inverness Creative Academy.

Inverness Creative Academy – formally the site of Inverness Royal Academy from 1895 until 1980 – was officially reopened in 2022 as the first cultural and artistic hub for the Highlands. Restored by Wasps Studios, the building now provides upwards of 60 workspaces to the artists and makers of the region. The old Assembly Hall and Gym Hall rooms have been transformed into new events spaces, hosting exhibitions, symposiums, screenings, markets and even ceilidhs. Located in the historic Crown area, Inverness Creative Academy is a short walk from the city centre.

Book a spot for the tour at Inverness Creative Academy on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 September here.

The Briggait – formerly Glasgow’s fish market of over a century – is made up of a series of soaring market halls that date from 1873, 1899 and 1904 respectively. It is a recognisable landmark on the city’s skyline, as the halls incorporate the Merchant’s Steeple Clocktower, dating back to 1655. In the 1970s, the fish merchants relocated to the Blochairn area, leaving The Briggait empty before it fell into disrepair. Slated for demolition by Glasgow City Council, the Bridgegate Preservation Trust (now known as Glasgow Building Preservation Trust) was founded in 1982 to save the building, which proved to be successful in its mission. Wasps Studios, the UK’s largest provider of creative spaces, redeveloped The Briggait in 2009 to open a complex of artist studios and creative offices for Glasgow’s innovators. Today, the building serves as the organisation’s headquarters, and offers upwards of 150 cultural producers workspaces. In 2023, Wasps Studios began the redevelopment of the remaining market halls at The Briggait, to bring the entire building back into public use for the first time in nearly 50 years. Working alongside Clark Contracts, the charity is restoring these historic sites to provide more space for creativity, more markets, more places to meet and more things to do, for the people of Glasgow and visitors to the city.

Book a spot for the tour at The Briggait on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 September here.

Granton Station is a former gas workers station, which opened formally in February 1903 as a transport link for the workers of the Granton Gasworks. Granton Station Creative Works is a £4.75m project led by Edinburgh City Council who acquired it in 2018, to restore and adapt the B-listed Granton Station. It is one of the first projects to begin as part of the Granton Waterfront Redevelopment Project. Wasps took over the lease for the station, opening our doors in Autumn 2023. The building offers 4 offices for Creative/Cultural Businesses, open plan Co-working spaces with daily hot-desking or monthly fixed-desk memberships, a professional meeting room to hire and a gallery space to hire for exhibitions and workshops. The vision for Granton Station is as a hub for Creative Industries, where creatives can come to work, and expand their network by fostering a creative community with other likeminded individuals.

Book a spot for the tour of Granton Station on Saturday 28 September here.

Wasps is pleased to support visual artist and scholar Patricia Paolozzi Cain with her latest solo exhibition Opposition and Fellowship, accompanied by two events; a conversation with Ronnie Forbes RSA, and a symposium with guests Celia Burbush, Katie Elphinstone and Cate Ross.

Patricia is the latest recipient of the RSA x Wasps Award, for which she has been given an exhibition opportunity at The Briggait. Taking nature as her starting point, Paolozzi Cain presents a series of work as part of Opposition and Fellowship that speaks to the invisible process of reconciling opposites.

Alongside the exhibition, Patricia has organised the following:

In Conversation: Ronnie Forbes RSA and Patricia Paolozzi Cain
12 September, 12pm–3:30pm at The Briggait
Book a free spot here.

Deep Thinking and Creative Practice: A Symposium
24 September, 11:30am–3:30pm beginning at South Block before moving to The Briggait
Tickets are £8. Book a spot here.

Wasps is gravely concerned to hear the announcement made by Creative Scotland that the Open Fund for Individuals will close on 30th August due to the Scottish Government being unable to confirm the release of £6.6m in Grant-in-Aid budget in the current financial year.

We know that this will have come as a major shock to those who would have benefited either directly from the fund or through involvement in funded projects, coming at a time when the sector is already reckoning with a multitude of challenges. This decision will have a serious impact on countless artists, and their ability to continue making work that contributes to Scotland’s cultural landscape and the community’s wellbeing as a whole.

A closure of the Open Fund for Individuals will only add to the barriers most artists face, making it harder for them to sustain their livelihoods. It makes cultural activity less accessible, removing the opportunity for those who need support the most.

We know the positive impacts that artists, makers and the entire cultural sector deliver for people and places, for Scotland as a whole. Scotland’s culture matters, now more than ever, and at its foundation are individual artists for whom this announcement will be the last straw.

We urgently call on the Scottish Government to reconsider its position.

Wasps is pleased to welcome Scott Lawrie Gallery to Granton Station for his first UK exhibition which has just opened as part of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2024.

A curator’s talk led by Scott will take place on the evening of Thursday 22 August at Granton Station. Limited spaces are available, so please book via Eventbrite here.

THIS IS NO SAFE SPACE: Art in Capitalist Realism was inspired by the writings of the late British theorist Mark Fisher, particularly his book ‘Capitalist Realism, is there no alternative?’ This show applies some of this thinking to explore the effects of late stage capitalism on the art world.

It’s a small, punchy show, with some big names covering interesting subjects; Patricia Piccinini (AUS) on technology and ethics, Félix González- Torres (USA) on institutional boundaries (what is an artwork? And who ‘owns’ it?), Benjamin Aitken (AUS) on medicalisation and mental health, Rebecca Wallis (UK/NZ) on concepts of the sublime, and Jamie Chapman (NZ) on the space between binary polemics.

Limited spaces are available for the 30-minute talk; you are welcome to ask some questions, have a drink and a catch up at the Waiting Room Gallery at Wasps’ Granton Station. The show is on 11-5pm each day Monday to Saturday from 3-24 August. Scott has also written a really interesting essay which you can find on his website at scottlawrie.com.

Hahnemühle, renowned maker of high-quality artist materials, is thrilled to be partnering with Wasps Studios, Scotland’s largest creative community. This collaboration will enhance the charity’s arts programme and support the makers based at Wasps’ buildings across the country through events sponsorships and provision of artist materials.

Hahnemühle FineArt have been producing paper in the Saxony Valley in the Solling Mountains since 1584. Today’s portfolio comprises traditional and digital FineArt papers for drawing, painting, giclée printing plus speciality printing paper and life science applications.

Soft pure spring water, high-quality cellulose, first-rate expertise in paper production and an absolute commitment to quality have always been key commitments of the Hahnemühle brand.

Wasps Studios, with a history spanning more than four decades, offers studio spaces and creative facilities to artists and makers across Scotland. Hosting around 1,000 innovators in 20 locations, from Shetland to the Borders, Wasps is a key player in Scotland’s cultural landscape.

The partnership is built on a shared vision of nurturing artistic talent and promoting the arts within the Wasps network and beyond. Both Hahnemühle and Wasps are committed to creating an environment where artists can thrive, innovate, and inspire. By combining resources and expertise, the two organisations seek to amplify the impact of Wasps’ arts programme and support the creative journeys of Scotland’s artists.

Wasps Studios, the UK’s largest provider of artist studios, has announced that it will be selling one of their buildings in Glasgow’s east end after a building survey concluded that an estimated £3M investment would be needed for safeguarding and refurbishment.

This difficult decision to sell East Campbell Street studios was made by the charity’s Board in response to escalating maintenance and running costs across their estate, compounded by a recent building survey that indicated the building was significantly deteriorating beyond what the organisation’s lean budget could afford to fix.

East Campbell Street studios – also known as Gallowgate Studios or Dovehill Studios – is home to a close-knit community of around 40 artists, including renowned printmakers and painters, and has been a cherished part of Wasps’ estate since 1995.

In light of the financial challenges faced, Wasps has accepted an offer from a buyer to purchase the three upper floors owned by Wasps and operated as artist studios. A condition of this deal set out by Wasps is to allow existing artists at East Campbell Street the opportunity to extend their stay at the building for up to two years under the new owner.

Wasps is committed to supporting their artist community with safe, sustainable studio space and will be working with all artists based at East Campbell Street to find a solution that works for them in either another Wasps studio building or elsewhere, ensuring a long term future as a practicing artist.

Should any artist wish to move to another building within Wasps’ estate instead, the charity is giving them first priority for space at their three other Glasgow locations, supporting them with their relocation costs and freezing rents at the rate they currently pay for a period of three months to help with the transition.

Members of Wasps’ team and Board have now met with the artists at East Campbell Street to discuss the implications of the sale, and the charity have said they are committed to supporting them during this significant change.

“We understand this news may be concerning for our East Campbell Street artist community but we are dedicated to supporting them through this transition.” said Wasps CEO Audrey Carlin, “It would be unthinkable to add a £3M+ bill to our national artist community, this is not something Wasps or our artist tenants can afford. However, we remain steadfast in our mission of providing creative spaces for Scotland’s artists and makers.”

Wasps Studios is but one cultural institution faced with such challenging decisions to secure their survival. Last year, Creative Scotland warned the Scottish government that up to a third of the country’s arts organisations faced insolvency because of unsustainable increased costs, loss of profit and dwindling funding opportunities.

Arts charity Wasps Studios, the UK’s largest provider of creative spaces, welcomed school children from nearby Blackfriars Primary in the Gorbals to install a time capsule in celebration of their restoration of The Briggait, Glasgow’s former fish market.

The attending pupils had been working alongside the rest of their P6 class with The Briggait-based artist Kayleigh Sarah McGuinness on a series of art workshops that examined the Glasgow landmark’s historical significance.

The class came together last year to make a large-scale artwork on paper, which was displayed at an exhibition celebrating The Briggait’s 150^th anniversary in December 2023.

Some of the Blackfriars pupils can be seen adding their own artworks (from left to right: Pramav, Jamie and Yashwini, with artist Kayleigh Sarah McGuinness), inspired by The Briggait’s impressive history and architecture, to the time capsule.

The children’s artwork goes into the time capsule alongside items contributed by the nearly 150 artists and makers based out of their studios at The Briggait.

The time capsule project involving young people from Blackfriars Primary School and artists from The Briggait, is part of the Clydeside Market Halls development project.

The Clydeside Market Halls will open later in 2024 and will have transformed 1200m² of currently unused space into an exciting riverside destination for markets, events and food and drink. These market halls, dating back to 1873, 1889 and 1904 respectively represent the oldest surviving market halls in Scotland and the entire site will be back in public use for the first time in half a century.

To mark this exciting redevelopment and The Briggait’s recent 150^th anniversary, the time capsule is to be installed in the new designated café space that faces onto the River Clyde later this year.

It’s that time again, Wasps Summer Artist & Makers Markets are kicking off this August in Inverness and Glasgow.

Whether you are a long standing participant, or this is your first market, our creative community creates a fun and welcoming environment for all. Applications are now open for both markets, with dates and links to the application form below. Stalls are £45 for Wasps tenants and £75 for external applicants. Please note we do not accept single day applications. Applications will close on Friday 28 June at 5pm. If you have any questions or are curious to find out more about our events, get in touch at projects@waspsstudios.org.uk.

Inverness Creative Academy: Friday 16 (4pm–8pm), Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 (10am–4pm) August 2024 – https://zfrmz.eu/wzYLHuZ0OnHfXZ2HZpNL

The Briggait (Glasgow): Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 (11am–5pm) August 2024  – https://zfrmz.eu/MzvlsIgA5S79jd2nLK5L

It was a real privilege for the Wasps team to welcome Scotland’s new First Minister, John Swinney to Inverness Creative Academy on Monday.

We were able to showcase the creative hub for the Highlands by taking the First Minister on a tour of the building’s facilities where we highlighted the crucial importance that artists play in supporting Scotland’s wellbeing and economy.

Several artists and creatives, with studios or offices at Inverness Creative Academy, spoke with the First Minister about their careers and how important their Inverness base has been to their development. This vibrant community of innovators were fantastic ambassadors for their building and the Wasps network at large.

Wasps CEO Audrey Carlin took the opportunity to speak with the First Minister about the charity’s new Scotland’s Culture Matters manifesto, which focuses on the strain that the cultural sector is under, and proposes solutions that will help lift the pressure on the artists and organisations across Scotland amidst rising costs and stagnant funding.

Officially opened in 2022 by HRH The Princess Royal, Inverness Creative Academy is a £6m project that transformed two B-listed former school Midmills buildings on the old Inverness Royal Academy site in the Crown area of the city into the largest creative facility for artists, designers, makers, creative industries, cultural/social enterprises and the community in the Scottish Highlands.

A not for profit charity, Wasps is the UK’s largest artist studio provider. Home to 1000 artists and makers in 21 communities.  But spiralling costs and defunding mean our cultural sector faces its biggest crisis since devolution: So this Scotland’s Culture Matters manifesto asks governments to:  

• Support our artists by abolishing the punitive 20% tax on maintaining our nation’s historic and cultural buildings.  
• Fund Net Zero initiatives to reduce energy costs and tenants’ rents.

Scotland’s culture crisis

Scotland’s £4.4billion cultural sector is navigating the perfect storm of cost-of-living, spiralling energy prices and reduced income. Many artists, makers, and the organisations who support them, stand on the brink of a financial precipice.  

We want UK and Scottish governments to take action to reduce the punitive 20% tax on maintaining and repairing historic buildings, and provide agile financial support to drive our Net Zero 2045 initiatives. 

Both initiatives will reduce the financial burden on our artists.

Wasps: Creating a healthier, wealthier nation

A not-for-profit charity, Wasps has blossomed from a single space in Dundee in 1977 to become the UK’s largest artist studio provider. We are home to 1000 artists and makers and 25 creative organisations at 21 sites from Shetland to the Borders.

Wasps has raised over £30million to restore heritage buildings such as The Briggait in Glasgow, Inverness Creative Academy, Perth Creative Exchange and Granton Station in Edinburgh.

We support Scotland’s £4.4billion cultural sector by providing inspirational spaces where artists, creators, creative industries, social enterprises and charities can flourish. By breathing new life into redundant, historic buildings, we regenerate communities, creating a healthier, wealthier nation.

And by re-purposing and preserving existing buildings and our national treasures, we play an important role in the drive towards Net Zero.

The challenge: Our artists are struggling in the perfect storm

Artists and cultural organisations are struggling to stay afloat in the perfect storm of the cost-of-living crisis, energy price rises and defunding.

Our charity’s running costs have soared 95% since 2021, with an increase of 116% in energy costs alone.

The average income of an artist is below £10,000 per year and many of our artists struggle to make ends meet. They face rent rises at a time when their income is decreasing as the cost-of-living crisis has seen their sales slump.

Our financial model is based on running our studio buildings without external subsidy, with our estate funded by rental income from our creative community. Until recently our artist tenants enjoyed affordable rents. Our tenants can no longer afford to shoulder the full burden of increased energy and maintenance costs Wasps is now experiencing. Our annual rent rise for 2024/25 covers just 50% of what we need to break even in the year ahead– the rest will be met through cutting costs, through operational efficiencies and alternative revenue streams. Many of these are short-term measures that will cost us dear in the long term. 

So we have produced a manifesto, Scotland’s Culture Matters to campaign for two solutions to support our artists.

Solution 1. End the tax on maintaining our heritage and on all building fabric energy upgrades

‘Historic and cultural buildings enrich Scotland’s landscape and they are central to our everyday lives, creating a sense of place, identity and wellbeing. They are adaptable and robust, with architectural features and sustainable materials that were designed to cope with the elements and allowed for a natural dispersion of moisture through fabric and passive ventilation mechanisms. The existing range of traditional buildings should be regarded as part of the resource solution not as an energy problem in isolation.’

*Historic Environment Scotland – Energy Retrofit of Buildings.

51 years of VAT Impact

In the 51 years since VAT was imposed, organisations and individuals have argued in vain for the abolition of the tax on the upkeep of heritage property. In 2012, the UK Government levied a 20 per cent VAT rate on repairs and maintenance of historic and cultural buildings, effectively introducing a further financial disincentive to preserve our heritage.

Available estimates suggest that while VAT raises £600million a year, a reduction from 20% to 5% on heritage repairs and maintenance will result in a £15billion  boost to the economy, the creation of 95,000 new jobs and a carbon reduction of 240,000 tonnes of CO2. This makes overall financial and environmental sense.

* Institute of Historic Building Conservation.

Against a backdrop of challenging Net Zero targets and in the key context of the Circular Economy and retaining Embodied Carbon, it makes little sense for VAT to be zero-rated on new buildings, yet set at 20% on restoring and nurturing existing buildings.  The greenest buildings are the ones that already exist.

Abolishing or cutting the VAT rate would directly reduce energy and maintenance costs and, in turn, have a positive impact on artists’ livelihoods.

It would recognise the importance of the upkeep and re-use of our heritage buildings, while contributing to job creation, graduate transition and health and wellbeing in local communities.

For Wasps, the abolition of VAT would see a £100k reduction in the annual running costs of our estate, money that would be re-invested in keeping our tenants rents affordable and importantly be used for investing in Net Zero initiatives towards Scotland’s goals.

The Scottish Government has pressed the UK Government for change.

Culture Minister Kaukab Stewart said: “It is important that historic and traditional buildings are not seen as a barrier to achieving our targets and that the full benefits they present, particularly in terms of environmental and carbon impact, are recognised.

“A targeted VAT reduction for the repair and maintenance of traditional buildings would send a clear message in response to the climate crisis that emphasises the importance of our heritage.”

Solution 2. Give the cultural sector direct support for Net Zero

In their Public Engagement Strategy for Climate Change, the Scottish Government put arts and creativity at the heart of their mission to inspire and empower the need to transform to Net Zero by 2045. They recognise that  culture is the golden thread that runs through all policy areas including climate, inequality and innovation.

The Government’s new Culture for Scotland Action Plan says it will “harness the transformational power of culture to deliver on climate change for Scotland’’. While we support the intent to “work closely with the Scottish Culture and Creative Sector” there needs to be recognition of the financial barriers to change.

Today, the parlous financial position of the arts in Scotland, risks derailing those ambitions. While we can create a climate change vision for two decades ahead, crippling uncertainty over finance means many artists do not know where they will be in two months’ time.

‘The arts are not the cherry on the cake…they are the cake.’ – Lord Melvyn Bragg calls for the UK to realise the full potential of the arts to transform our economy and society.

Culture and creativity are powerful agents of the very type of societal change needed to reach Net Zero. Today’s Scotland was shaped by artists, musicians, authors, makers and thinkers – but this collective natural treasure is now under threat.

For Wasps, responding to the climate crisis is essential to future-proof our charity and our creative community against climate-related risks, to reduce costs and ensure the longevity of our buildings.  Last year we partnered with Glasgow City Council and Glasgow Chamber of Commerce in Step Up To Net Zero and have now set ambitious targets on the pathway to 2045.

Like many charities we are ‘running on empty’. Subsidising rents to protect our tenants means cutting costs to the bone. From our conversations with partners and stakeholders, we know money allocated to green projects is  now being diverted to keeping the lights on.

Agile funding to improve the energy efficiency of the nation’s studios, galleries, theatres, and spaces not only reduces carbon footprint but reduces costs for organisations and artists alike

The last word..

The regeneration game. Granton Station, above left. After 80 dormant years, the former gasworks railway station is buzzing as a cultural hub following a £4.75million restoration led by City of Edinburgh Council and Wasps. The rebirth will support 40 jobs and help 100 grow their businesses. The Briggait, above right. Built in 1873, The Briggait was Glasgow’s fish market for over 100 years. It has now been restored into a vibrant new home for 150 visual artists and cultural organisations. The final phase will transform 1,200m2 of unused space into a riverside destination for food and drink, markets, events and creative industries.

Wasps supports The Scottish Government’s strategy which places culture as a central consideration across all policy areas, including health and wellbeing, economy, education, reducing inequality and realising a greener and more innovative future.

Our work is founded on providing affordable space for creativity and opening up the potential of culture as a transformative opportunity across society.  We can continue to do that, and in addition want to build our efforts to reach Net Zero, but cannot in the perfect storm of our core property costs.   We have always worked from a sound financial foundation but today these foundations are at risk of crumbling.

We call on the Scottish and UK governments to act now before it is too late and the good work, in Wasps’ case of nearly five decades, in building our national cultural strength is undone.

One of Scotland’s largest arts charities has called for the abolition of VAT on the maintenance of historic and cultural buildings, warning urgent financial intervention is needed to safeguard the nation’s crisis-hit creative sector and meet Net Zero targets.

Wasps, which supports 1000 artists in 21 properties, said many organisations were struggling to keep afloat in a ‘’perfect storm” of rising costs, reduced income and defunding.

Chief Executive Audrey Carlin said they recognised tenants could no longer afford to shoulder the full burden of increased energy and maintenance costs. She said a rise rent in May covers just 50% of the bill – the rest will be met through cutting costs.

Wasps has helped regenerate a series of landmark buildings, including the 150-year-old Briggait in Glasgow, Granton Station in Edinburgh and Inverness Creative Academy.

Carlin said: “Wasps was founded 47 years ago with the aim of providing affordable spaces where artistic talent could bloom. However, with costs rising and income decreasing, that ambition of affordability has become increasingly challenged.

“What we are calling for is a tailored financial intervention from the UK and Scottish governments to safeguard a sector that contributes £126bn to the economy, employs 2.4million and boosts wellbeing, reducing the burden on health and social care.

“Abolishing or cutting the 20% VAT rate on maintenance works on historic and cultural buildings would directly reduce costs and, in turn, have a positive impact on artists’ livelihoods. This would also recognise the importance of the upkeep and re-use of these national treasures, while contributing to job creation, graduate transition and health and wellbeing in local communities. 

“Wasps has now developed a road map to Net Zero, however we cannot afford to invest in the infrastructure required to reduce our energy costs and consumption without significant grant intervention. “

Carlin said Wasps were not unique in facing financial pressures. Creative Scotland warned that one in three arts organisations faced insolvency while Dundee Contemporary Arts said they faced “previously unimaginable financial precarity”.

The Scottish Government has pressed the UK Government for change in VAT, which is not a devolved matter. They have also called for new powers over taxation, including a VAT reduction on repairs which they say will “encourage the culture and creative sectors”. 

And this month, in a letter to the DCMS, Culture Minister Kaukab Stewart said: “Energy efficiency measures and retrofit options can present challenges, however it is important that historic and traditional buildings are not seen as a barrier to achieving our targets and that the full benefits they present, particularly in terms of environmental and carbon impact, are recognised.

“A targeted VAT reduction for the repair and maintenance of traditional buildings would send a clear message in response to the climate crisis that emphasises the importance of our heritage.”

Research from the Institute of Historic Building Conservation said a reduction in VAT from 20% to 5% across the UK in buildings repairs could boost the economy by £15billion, create 95,000 jobs and lead to a reduction of 240,000 tonnes of CO2.

First published by Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, 21 March 2024.

For decades, LDN Architects has practiced the principles advocated by the Burra Charter to preserve our built heritage: to do as much as necessary but as little as possible. The fundamental aim of that approach is to preserve the physical fabric, character and memory of a place for our collective future benefit.

There is however an additional layer of understanding, which acknowledges that conserving our buildings in use through minimal intervention is an inherently sustainable mode of practice. In more recent years, that understanding has been further enhanced through our ability to be empirical about the cradle-to-cradle carbon consumption of our projects, which tells us that, almost always, less is less. It is something that the industry is becoming increasingly aware of and despite being a bumpy path, there is a tangible and growing trend to look for development opportunities among the existing redundant stock that surrounds us, rather than brown and greenfield sites. Retrofit isn’t just about a sustainable mode of development, but a sustainable mode of urban and social regeneration.

The new Inverness Creative Academy is one such example that demonstrates the micro and macro benefits of retrofit. Purpose built in 1895 as the new Inverness Royal Academy, and latterly occupied by the University of the Highlands and Islands, the buildings are Category B Listed and of considerable architectural, social and cultural significance. However, the complex lay vacant and fading from 2015, whilst work was undertaken to find a new use. In 2018, its saviour was identified as Wasps Studios.

Wasps Studios is the UK’s largest not-for-profit provider of affordable creative workspace. With the support of several funding partners, it acquired the two buildings in the centre of the Inverness and commissioned a design team, led by LDN Architects, to transform them into artists’ studios, workspaces for creative industries, and publicly-accessible meeting, events, exhibition, café, and workshop space. Now complete and open, the venue is the largest sustainable creative arts facility and community resource of its type in the Highlands, developed with and for the local creative community.

Over their 125-year life prior to redevelopment, the buildings had been subject to welcome but heavy use and as such the fabric reflected its age. On top of that, an inappropriate set of alterations in the 1980s were detrimental to the character of the interiors, most notably dividing up the wonderfully proportioned central assembly hall with partitioning and glazed fire screens. LDN’s approach to address these failings can perhaps be described as “make do and mend.” From an early stage, we resolved to minimise intervention and to focus efforts on restoration and revelation by repairing and improving the fabric, and rediscovering the quality of the interiors through taking away rather than adding.

This approach required an acceptance that the result would not be a perfect set of interiors. Existing fabric and fixtures were reused and repurposed rather than removed and replaced. Surface-mounted electrics, radiators, sinks, timber linings, pinboards, shelving and the like were all salvaged. Where inconsistent wall or floor finishes were evident, they were accepted. The result is a project, delivered for less than £1,000 per sq.m., which has retained and enhanced the character and integrity of the existing architecture, while minimising the embodied energy involved in its transformation.

What surprised most, perhaps, is that through this approach the buildings have a greater than anticipated verve to them. This vitality embraces their new creative use without restricting it through pristine spaces. The interiors are sensitive but not precious. Working with Wasps’ sustainable model was a unique opportunity to provide a number of sustainable benefits that extend beyond the immediate and measurable environmental ones:

Written by Stuart McKellar, first published in Issue 56 of RIAS Quarterly Magazine, Winter 2023-2024.

The RICS Awards recognise industry-leading achievements and demonstrate the upholding of the highest standards of professionalism and ethics by individuals and teams across the built and natural environments.

ADP Architects have been nominated for the Refurbishment Revitalisation Award 2024 by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors in recognition of their amazing work on the Granton Station project. ADP sensitively restored the vacant, historic station building into a new sustainable home for the social enterprise charity Wasps Studios, supporting the local creative community. Positioned as a landmark at the gateway to the Granton Waterfront Regeneration area, this project significantly contributes to the local area’s broader regeneration efforts.

Granton Station is a £4.75m project led by City of Edinburgh Council to restore and adapt the B-listed former Granton Gas Works Railway Station, a landmark building that sits at the gateway to the Granton Waterfront Regeneration area.

Disused as a station since 1942, the new facility delivers a 600m2 creative hub offering affordable, high quality workspaces, co-working desk spaces, a gallery/workshop space and meeting room provision, set in a newly landscaped public realm and outdoor events space.

Congratulations and good luck to the ADP team that led on the Granton Station project!

As Scotland’s leading provider of creative spaces, Wasps is dedicated to supporting the creative economy. Join a community of a thousand artists and makers, and over eighty creative businesses and cultural charities already benefiting from Wasps’ 46 years of experience in operating creative workspaces. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to be part of a vibrant network of creatives, designers, photographers, social entrepreneurs, and cultural producers. Discover your new workspace at Granton Station today.

Wasps chair calls for the government to champion “a prioritised action plan for cultural strengthening.”

The Scottish government’s Culture Strategy for Scotland promises to “harness the transformational power of culture to deliver on climate change’’ and says culture needs to be the golden thread that runs through all policy areas including climate, inequality and innovation. But arts and creativity are more than a thread. They address fundamental societal challenges — our mental and physical health crisis, our economic doldrums and climate change. And they energise and strengthen our 21st-century communities.

The arts are not a “nice to have”. As Melvyn Bragg said in the Lords last month: “The arts are not the cherry on the cake … they are the cake.” The arts are as diverse as we are and touch everything, as shaped by musicians, wordsmiths, painters, makers and thinkers. Art and culture contribute £126 billion to UK the economy, employ 2.4 million and boost wellbeing, reducing the burden on health and social care.

Yet the perfect storm of defunding and the cost of living crisis threatens the livelihood of artists and makers. The Scottish government says £100 million more is being invested in the arts over ten years, but the reality is that artists are struggling to survive in the face of diminishing sales and rising studio costs. Creative Scotland has warned one in three organisations is “at risk of insolvency in the short term”.

Cultural venues are the touchstone of sustainable, resilient places. We bring at-risk buildings in the heart of our communities back to life — most recently with partners at Granton Station in Edinburgh and phase two of The Briggait in Glasgow. Elsewhere we are grappling with spiralling utility and maintenance bills and the impacts on our tenants. Others have closed studios, mothballed galleries, curtailed exhibitions or, worse, closed with the loss of jobs. We can play an active part in the drive to net zero. A first step would be to get access to agile funding to improve the energy efficiency of studios, galleries, theatres and cultural spaces. We can start by targeting “quick win” retrofit.

The government needs to champion the virtuous cultural/climate/economic circle and make it the USP of an enlightened Scotland, with a prioritised action plan for cultural strengthening. A plan that all politicians understand is as important as funding housing, health and education, as investing in culture today saves on long-term and collateral societal costs, and builds our nation’s cultural “capital”. Bragg said the arts is the cake. We would all benefit from a larger slice.

Karen Anderson is chairwoman of the arts charity Wasps Studios.

First published in The Times, Tuesday 12 March 2024

We are pleased to share the news of our appointment of four new Trustees that will complement our current Board. They include two Wasps tenants – one visual artist at Hanson Street and the other a director of a creative business at South Block.

Santini Basra – Wasps CIC tenant at South Block, Glasgow and founder of Studio Andthen

As Director of Andthen, Santini comes with a wealth of experience in leading a wide range of strategy projects across sectors such as education, retail, mental health, finance, urban planning and construction with a clients across private, public and third sectors. He also is a visiting lecturer at Glasgow School of Art.

Steven Anderson – Wasps artist tenant at Hanson Street, Glasgow

Steven is an artist making site-responsive live art performances. He is a project specific lecturer in Contemporary Performance Practice at the Royal Conservatoire Scotland. He has a MFA with distinction from Duncan of Jordanstone Collage of Art and Design, Dundee, a BA(Hons) in Fine Art from Glasgow School of Art and a Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Arts Education from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

Anne McGregor – Partner and Head of Commercial Real Estate at Anderson Strathern

Anne leads the commercial real estate department and is a commercial property specialist at Anderson Strathern, with over 30 years’ experience in commercial property transactions, acting for a diverse range of clients from multinational companies to local businesses.

Dominic Echlin – Structural Engineer and Director at Narro

Dominic has over 25 years of experience in the survey and repair of historic buildings and complex new build projects. He has a special interest in architectural engineering & in conservation. Dominic is a member of the Society of Architectural Historians of Great Britain, the Construction History Society, Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland & the Scottish Vernacular Buildings Group.

Our Granton Station community arts coordinator, Heather Marshall, is looking for photographic submissions from anyone with a relationship to the historic railway building to be part of a photographic showcase this spring.

Photographs from any time period can be submitted, whether that’s decades ago or last week. There is a small stock of disposable cameras available to collect from Granton Station that you can take from to document the building and its surroundings, or use your own camera on your phone, DSLR or polaroid. If your photograph is historic in nature, we want to see parties, protests, day trips, picnics, sports days, gala days, concerts, people at work – everything!

The deadline to submit your photographs for inclusion in the showcase is Tuesday 26 March. You can drop off physical copies to Granton Station’s reception during regular opening hours, or email them to Heather on heather.marshall@ext.waspsstudios.org.uk.

Details of the showcase event will be shared once the deadline for submissions has passed.

We are very pleased to now welcome applications from small creative businesses looking to sell their wares at the second Spring Market in Glasgow this May.

We’re kicking off our 2024 markets with the Wasps Spring Market at the historic Briggait 1873 Hall in Glasgow. On Saturday the 4^th and Sunday 5^th of May 2024 we will be welcoming over 90 creatives under our roof for the weekend. There will be free entry to the public to browse a large variety of original artwork, crafts and more. Applications for stall holders are now open and can be found by clicking here. The deadline to apply is Friday 8 March.

Save the date and share with your creative network and let’s make this year the best yet!

Scottish Contemporary Art Network – based at Wasps’ headquarters in The Briggait – has recently launched its fleet of four e-cargo bikes now available to use for SCAN members.

In January 2024, SCAN acquired a fleet of four e-cargo bikes thanks to funding from Cycling UK’s Scotland’s Cycle Share Fund. The bikes are available to SCAN members, and affiliated artists and art workers, to hire and use in their day-to-day work for free, and come equipped with large capacity cargo boxes for safe storage of materials and artwork. The bikes will be based at four SCAN member organisations – The Briggait in Glasgow, Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop, Forgan Art Centre in Fife and Hospitalfield in Arbroath – ensuring that they benefit arts communities across a large area of Scotland.

The scheme aims to provide a free, environmentally friendly means of transporting work, at a time when artists and arts organisations across the country are in dire need of sustainable transport options. The bikes were purchased through the Cycle Share Fund: a Cycling UK project funded by Transport Scotland, which provides funding for organisations to purchase cycles and equipment for shared use. The scheme connects with one of SCAN’s strategic aims: to harness non-arts funding for the benefit of artists, arts workers and arts organisations across the country.

“Artists and arts organisations across Scotland are working hard to meet the challenges of the climate emergency,” said Moira Jeffrey, Director of Scottish Contemporary Art Network, about the scheme. “We’re delighted that we can help them reach their goals by making the sustainable transport of materials and art works that little bit easier thanks to support from Cycling UK in Scotland’s Cycle Share Fund. We are thrilled that our four e-cargo bikes, which are free to book for SCAN members, will be available in both urban centres and rural areas. We want artists to feel supported in the huge effort they are already undertaking to make the word a better place for all of us.”

Wasps Studios is recruiting for a new Head of Projects, Marketing and Communications Manager and Trustees to join the Wasps Board.

It’s a very exciting time to join the Wasps team, as we near the completion of the first phase of our development at The Briggait Clydeside Market Halls in Glasgow, and have just wrapped up on our creative industries location in Granton, Edinburgh in autumn 2023. We’re looking for new team members to carry the baton and deliver on the execution and communications surrounding this phase of Wasps’ endeavours. Our new Trustees will join the Board to offer support to the Wasps’ core team and delegate on key decisions that will inform the charity’s future.

We are currently on site with the first phase of The Briggait Clydeside Market Halls project, due to open in late Summer 2024. This £4m project will return the oldest surviving collection of market halls in Scotland to public use for the first time in 50 years, and transform 1,200m2 of derelict and unused space into an exciting riverside destination for food and drink, markets, events and creative industries. The Head of Projects will be the key client contact for Wasps in delivering this capital construction project and seeing its hand over to an operational facility. We have also recently acquired Riverside House – our new studio building in Edinburgh, which replaces another property in the city that had become unsustainable. The Head of Projects will oversee, with the Project Manager, the internal remodelling of this property to make it an inspiring and fit for purpose home for artists long into the future. In addition to these projects, the Head of Projects will lead the review and improvement of our existing estate, ensuring that our properties are inspiring, sustainable, and fit for purpose – supporting Scotland’s creative communities long into the future. Click here to read more about the role and apply.

Alongside the Head of Projects, we wish to appoint an imaginative, dynamic and effective Marketing and Communications Manager to lead on the creation and delivery of strategic marketing, communications and audience development plans; providing an important link between the Wasps staff team, our tenants as well as a wide range of stakeholders, funders and development partners. With a soft launch of the Clydeside Market Halls planned for late Summer 2024, the new Marketing and Communications Manager will have a key role in supporting the promotion of these new creative facilities and services. Click here to read more about the role and apply.

The Wasps Board of Trustees – made up entirely of volunteers – plays an indispensable role in offering industry expert support to the Wasps core team in matters such as the cultural sector, property, law, finance and HR. Board members meet at least four times a year to discuss and decide upon the latest developments and strategy, with each Trustee serving on a respective sub-committee based on their expertise – Projects and Property, Arts and Enterprise or Finance and Resources. Click here to read more about the role and apply.

This summer sees the completion of a £4m construction project on The Briggait Clydeside Market Halls that restores over 1,200sqm of derelict market halls in this iconic ‘A’ listed building. Two additional halls – built in 1899 and 1904 – return to public use, along with a revamped Clyde Street riverside entrance with a new café and retail/hospitality outlet.

Built around the original 17^th Century Merchant House and Steeple, The Briggait was established in 1873 as Glasgow’s first purpose-built fish market, inspired by the famous food market Les Halles in Paris. It had many uses over the years, including as a shopping centre, before falling into a long period of disrepair.

However, since 2010 The Briggait complex has been managed and run by the charity Workshop and Artists Studio Provision Scotland Ltd (Wasps). Wasps have fifty years’ experience of redeveloping neglected historic buildings across Scotland, converting them into affordable studio facilities for artists, makers, creative industries, social enterprises and charities.   

Since taking over the historic ‘A’ listed building, Wasps have undertaken the regeneration of around half of the floorspace, including the original 1873 Hall.

However, a £4m project, funded by Historic Environment Scotland, The Scottish Government, UK Shared Prosperity Fund, Glasgow City Council, Scottish Landfill Community Fund and Glasgow City Heritage Trust, is due to be completed this summer 2024 that restores two additional market halls – added in 1899 and 1904 – that have been derelict for decades. This will transform 1,200 sqm of unused space into an exciting riverside destination for events, food and drink, markets, performances and exhibitions. The Briggait Clydeside Market Halls will return the oldest surviving collection of market halls in Scotland to public use for the first time in 50 years.

“The Briggait is already established as a vibrant hub for the arts and the completion of this project will reinforce its position as a cornerstone in Glasgow’s cultural landscape. We look forward to welcoming you to this amazing building.” – Audrey Carlin, Wasps Studios CEO

New business opportunities in Central Glasgow to work with Wasps Studios

There are three new business opportunities available as a result of the project. Wasps will be looking to appoint an operator for its new café (located within the new main reception/Clyde Street entrance) as well someone to run the new Corner unit on the riverside frontage (which has potential for uses including food and drink, retail).  

It is expected that the three Halls – 1873, 1899 and 1904 – will be in demand for exhibitions, food and drink markets, fashion and vintage markets. Wasps will be looking for an events management and delivery partner to help them maximise the usage of the halls.

To download the Tender Opportunities information or register your interest, please visit the BTS website here.

Our team is preparing to finish up for 2023 and close our staffed buildings for the holidays. Please keep the dates below in mind if you are planning any visits.

For your information, all of Wasps’ staffed buildings – The Briggait, South Block, Granton Station, Perth Creative Exchange and Inverness Creative Academy – will be closed after 5pm on Friday 22 December until 9am on Wednesday 3 January to the public. This means that our gallery spaces will also be closed during this time.

Our tenants are welcome to continue accessing their studios or office spaces over Christmas and New Year.

We wish you all a peaceful festive season and a happy new year 2024!

We are very pleased to share the news that Wasps has now completed the purchase of Riverside House on Gorgie Road in Edinburgh, adding this six floor building to our Edinburgh studio provision.

It has been quite a lengthy process but we are proud to have finally secured this building for our existing tenants and future generations of artists in the Capital to work from.

The purchase was essential as one of our current Edinburgh studio buildings, West Park Place, is in the process of being closed having become unviable as a Wasps artist studio building. Those artists who will be moving to Riverside House have already been involved in helping to shape the building’s look and use, and many will be moving there on a temporary basis until their new permanent studios are available.

By Summer 2024, we will also be inviting our artists based at Albion Road to join us at Riverside House, as the building’s new owner will be renovating the site. This bringing together of the two groups is an exciting prospect, and we look forward to creating one new artist community at Riverside House.

We now look to the future, and getting Riverside House prepared by safeguarding and fitting out the new studio spaces which will be ready in summer 2024. Riverside House will have an exciting workshop space, with lots of potential for the surrounding community to be introduced to the building and its artists when we start to see events scheduled.

The money spent on purchasing Riverside House will come from the sale of West Park Place in due course, as we promised to reinvest and funds generated by sales within the Edinburgh estate would go towards continuing our mission of creating long-term workspaces for artists and the creative industries.

We will update you on this exciting development next year, but until then have a wonderful festive season and a very happy and fruitful 2024!

Members of the Wasps team were excited to meet with the selected mentors and mentees that are taking part in the Granton Graduate Accelerator Programme this week at our brand new creative industries location.

The Graduate Accelerator programme which will provide an exciting opportunity for ten graduates as they nurture and develop their skills, creativity, and knowledge. Each participant will be matched with a mentor who is an experienced leader in their field and will benefit from 24 hours of mentoring across 12 months. In addition to this, they will have access to Wasps national network of creative tenants and featuring group sessions, goal setting and skill specific workshops. They will be provided with the support, mentorship, and confidence to develop their creative practice. They will also receive 12-months of co-work membership for Granton Station, giving them access to a flexible workspace, meeting rooms, exhibition and gallery space and a staffed reception.

The Graduate Accelerator programme will provide supported opportunities for emerging creatives in their first three years after graduation. Our ambition for the Graduate Accelerator programme is to promote innovation, creativity, and skills development by creating a pathway from education to establishing a creative business or practice.

The Granton Accelerator programme commenced on Monday 30th October, with all mentors and mentees/graduates convening at Granton Station for an evening, to learn more about the programme, get to know the other participants and begin some goal setting work that will guide their mentoring process over the next 12 months.

This hybrid program, delivered with the support of Creative Scotland is aimed at supporting professional development in creative practices, encouraging the use of Wasps Studios’ new Creative Hub at Granton Station; supporting the coming together of an exciting group of Scotland-based artists to engage with each other and with local community here in Granton and North Edinburgh.

The Highland Society of London and Wasps Studios are delighted to announce that the following 12 artworks have been shortlisted by Ishbel Murray, the artist and art teacher based on the Isle of Lewis, for the Highland Art Prize 2023 – with the winner to be announced at the prize-giving ceremony at The Briggait, 141 Bridgegate, Glasgow G1 5HZ, on Friday 20th October at 12.30pm.

Alex Ogilvie spoke on behalf of the Highland Society of London to say: “The quality and diversity of artworks in the Highland Art Prize grows year-by-year, and Ishbel had an unenviable job in picking a shortlist. Her selection underlines the fantastic range of work that continues to be produced in the Highlands and Islands, good luck to all of them in next week’s prize-giving.”

Crofts at South Dell/Croitean aig Dail bho Dheas by David Greenall (An Lanntair)

Digging For Bait (Thurso Beach)/A cladhach airson biathadh by Jackie Newton (Society of Caithness Artists)

571186degrees Wind Drawing/Dealbh Gaoith by Bronwyn Mackenzie (An Lanntair)

Flying to Bass by Kittie Jones (An Talla Solais)

Lady Of The Flowers by Leah Davis (Society of Caithness Artists)

Locheport, North Uist/Loch Euphort, Uibhist a Tuath by Margaret Fenton/ Mairead Fiannacta (Uist Arts Association/ Chomann Ealain Uibhist)

Napoleon Bay, Shieldaig by Sheila Garden (Perthshire Art Association)

North Beach, Iona/An tràigh a tuath, Ì by Robert Kelsey (Paisley Art Institute)

North Uist Beach/Tràigh Uibhist a Tuath by Alan B Hayman (Resipole Studios)

Ruthven Barracks by Bob Kinnaird (Society of Badenoch and Strathspey Artists)

Summer Oaks – Ardnamurchan by Liz Green (Art Society of Inverness)

The Ouse, Westray, Orkney by Amy Marshall (Resipole Studios)

The prize-giving is free for all to attend and will be hosted in conjunction with the Royal National Mòd, Wasps Studios, Renfrewshire Council and Bòrd na Gàidhlig. The winning artist will receive £1,000 (to be shared with their local art organisation), plus an exhibition opportunity at the Briggait in Glasgow, courtesy of Wasps Studios, the charity that provides studio spaces to artists and creators across Scotland.

Many thanks to Ishbel Murray for choosing her shortlist from the 74 wonderful artworks in the exhibition, which is now open every day 9.30am-5.30pm until Saturday 21 October at The Briggait.

There are now six Open Studios events scheduled for the coming months, with buildings in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Perth participating. Don’t miss the opportunity to see inside the creative spaces of the resident artists, including painters, ceramicists, jewellers, printmakers, textile makers and installation artists.

Open Studios events are a great opportunity to explore buildings that are otherwise closed to the public, meet local artists, see work being made and perhaps purchase a work of art for yourself or a loved one.

Dates for your diary are:

Hanson Street, Dennistoun: Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 October, 11am–4pm both days

The Briggait, Merchant City: Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 November, 11am–4pm both days

Albion Road, Leith: Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 November, 11am–6pm Saturday, 11am–5pm Sunday

Langstane Place, Aberdeen: Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 November, 11am–5pm both days

Patriothall, Stockbridge: Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 December, 11am–4pm both days

Perth Creative Exchange, Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 December, 10am–4pm both days

The open call has just gone live, and we’re welcoming applications from those artists, makers and craftspeople that are interested in selling at Inverness Creative Academy and The Briggait (Glasgow) this November and December. Our Winter Markets are always a grand affair, with visitors and stall holders alike embracing the festive mood for gift giving.

Wasps tenants receive a discounted rate for being a stall holder.

Click here to apply for the Wasps Winter Market at Inverness Creative Academy on Friday 24 Nov (4pm–8pm), Saturday 25 Nov & Sunday 26 Nov (10am–4pm).

Click here to apply for the Wasps Winter Market at The Briggait, Glasgow on Saturday 2 Dec (10am–5pm) and Sunday 3 Dec (10am–4pm).

If you’re a small creative business preparing your Winter 2023 schedule, make sure to apply to the Wasps Winter Markets before the deadline on Friday 13 October, 5pm.

The Wasps team is excited to be hosting tours at The Briggait as part of Glasgow’s Doors Open Days 2023.

The tours on Friday 15, Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 September will take visitors around the currently occupied parts of the building, including the 1873 Hall and Guildry Court. Join Wasps then for a rare glimpse of the inner workings of The Briggait today, as a creative hub hosting 100 artists and makers.

Built during the latter half of the 19th century up until the beginning of the 20th century, The Briggait was Glasgow’s fish market for over 100 years. In the 1970s, the fish market was relocated to Blochairn, allowing The Briggait to fall into a state of disrepair. Plans for its demolition were stopped by the Bridgegate Trust (known today as the Glasgow Building Preservation Trust) in the 1980s, before The Briggait briefly became a boutique shopping centre. A shortlived venture, the building once again closed its doors until Wasps Studios took over and restored The Briggait in 2009, establishing it as a creative centre for artists based across Glasgow.

The tours on Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 September will take visitors into the currently empty 1899 and 1904 Halls within The Briggait complex. As of July 2023, Clark Contracts are on-site to restore and transform these disused halls into dynamic events spaces that the creatives of The Briggait and Glasgow can enjoy. The tour will be hosted by the Clark Contracts team, who will discuss this latest project with Wasps Studios and the building as it stands today. Click here for more information on the current development.

Around 1000sqm of The Briggait Market Halls are empty and undeveloped, their condition deteriorating, and the ornate entrance from Clyde Street obscured. By embarking on this exciting project, we are ensuring this valuable asset is conserved and put back into public use, allowing communities and visitors to enjoy the full complement of spaces and activities in the building for many years to come. Our plans are now focused on saving these halls and developing more space for creativity, more markets, more places to meet and more things to do, for the people of Glasgow and visitors to the city.

Click here for the Wasps’ Eventbrite page and the book a free tour spot.

Wasps Studios has now shared the details of a number of exciting opportunities that will be based out of our new creative industries development at Granton Station, Edinburgh.

Our Funding and Partnerships team have launched the new Graduate Accelerator programme, which will support ten recent graduates based out of Edinburgh to develop their skills and knowledge beyond higher education. We are looking for experienced artists working in a variety of disciplines to be part of the programme to support the graduates over the course of twelve months through workshops, goal setting and mentorship. Graduates that apply will be matched with a mentor for the duration of the programme, who will also receive a 12-month co-work membership for Wasps’ new creative industries hub at Granton Station, providing access to a flexible workspace, meeting rooms, exhibition and gallery space and a staffed reception as well as access to Wasps’ national network of creative tenants. The programme will also provide the opportunity for graduates to showcase their work at one of Wasps’ galleries.

To assist with the delivery of the Graduate Accelerator, we are also looking to hire a freelance Project Coordinator to mange the mentors and mentees over the course of the twelve month programme. The Graduate Accelerator programme will provide supported opportunities for emerging creatives in their first three years after graduation, the programme addresses some of the key issues in the creative sector, the attraction and retention of creative talent and graduates in Scotland. Our ambition for the Graduate Accelerator programme is to support and nurture, innovation, creativity, and skills development by creating a pathway from education to establishing a creative business or practice.

Within the new Granton Station development, we are establishing a new gallery – The Waiting Room – to host art exhibitions and events that will form part of the Wasps core arts programme and external hires from the surrounding community. We are hiring an Arts Facilitator to come on board with Wasps to celebrate the opening of the new venue by making connections with our local community and encouraging participation in art and creativity.

Please click the link here for the full rundown of the roles and how to apply to each.

All of the aforementioned positions have been funded by Creative Scotland and the Charles Hayward Foundation.

We are very pleased to share that viewings of the hot desk and dedicated desk services at our brand new creative industries location will take place at Granton Station on Thursday 17 August.

This tour will be for those interested in the hot desking and dedicated desk facilities on offer. If you are are freelancer or creative business looking to expand into a new space within the exciting Granton Waterfront area, come along. Hourly slots are available at 3pm, 4pm, 5pm and 6pm.

Another tour will be hosted on Thursday 7 September for interested parties looking for contained spaces to see the offices.

Granton Station is a £4.75m project funded by City of Edinburgh Council to restore and adapt the B-listed former Granton Gas Works Railway Station, a landmark building that sits at the gateway to the Granton Waterfront Regeneration area. Disused as a station since 1942, the new facility will deliver a 600m2 creative hub offering affordable, high quality workspaces, co-working desk spaces, a gallery/workshop space and meeting room provision, set in a newly landscaped public realm and outdoor events space.

If you are a freelancer or creative business looking to expand into a new space within the exciting Granton Waterfront Regeneration area, come along.

Contact lettings@waspsstudios.org.uk with your details and what time you would like to view the space next week.

For a refresher on the development and the Granton brochure, click here.

Wasps would like to offer congratulations to a number of the winners at the Scottish Design Awards 2023 that are based at our buildings across Scotland, or have worked with Wasps on new developments.

Collective Architecture is the recipient of the Silver Award for Retrofit for their work on Civic House. The retrofit of Civic House, a former printworks, has created a hub of cultural and social enterprise that brings new life to a neglected corner of Glasgow. The repurposed building acts as a micro power station ? generating more energy than it consumes over the course of a year. Funded by the Climate Challenge Fund and Scottish Power Energy Network’s Green Economic Fund, Collective Architecture was commissioned by Agile City to undertake the refurbishment of the 1920s industrial warehouse located in north Glasgow. Collective Architecture created an incremental retrofit plan, ensuring it to be carried out in phases in line with available funding. Civic House is a home to a thriving community of social and creative enterprise. As an events space, it hosts talks, films, performances and exhibitions. And a Pakistani-inspired vegan canteen provides a social hub for the wider Speirs Lock creative community, other visitors from all over Glasgow and further afield. As a community-based workspace, the project aims to demonstrate that small actions can generate large-scale impact.

Collective were placed Gold for the Planning Award for their work on Coatfield Lane in Edinburgh. Nestled at the base of the A-listed Linkview House in the heart of Leith, the project aims to sensitively insert new affordable homes into the existing urban grain of the historic Kirkgate setting and Leith’s valued Conservation Area. The clients’ aspirations are to provide high quality homes with 50% being design for growing families. The project aims to create a strong sense of identity, providing a great place for people to live, work, and enjoy; creating a new thriving community that contributes and connects to Leith. The local community and wider stakeholders were instrumental in the design and development of the project and engaged with the design process at every step of the way. The aim is to provide vibrant and colourful public space, bounded by a hard and soft edge boundaries. The proposals encapsulate circular design principles throughout the project by the reuse and re-purposing of existing features wherever possible. A circular strategy is continued into the more detail proposals by not only driving down the energy consumption of the building in the aspirations to achieve Passivhaus Low Energy Building Standard but also by reducing the embodied carbon within the building materials.

Collective won Gold for the Master Planning Award for their project on Ladyfield in Scotland’s first NPF4-ready masterplan. The Ladyfield Masterplan takes a holistic, aspirational approach to placemaking and is designed to serve the wellbeing of the people that live in Dumfries now and in future. The masterplan sets out a vision for a place planned for people that addresses the climate emergency. Collective responded to the Scottish Government’s objectives to create nature-focused, sustainable communities through the recently adopted National Planning Framework 4. Ladyfield will promote a sustainable neighbourhood, and a diversity of housing is critical to its success. Homes will be proposed that improve affordability and choice in the local area by being adaptable to changing and varied needs and allow people to age in place, to encourage mixed communities that grow together over time. The heritage of this part of Dumfries is linked to the story of The Crichton, who have been innovating in health and wellbeing for over 150 years. The masterplan takes cognisance of the existing trees, protecting these whilst strengthening the green-blue infrastructure for the long-term benefit of existing and future residents. It will open up parkland for the community as well as enhancing the site’s biodiversity, promoting active travel and increasing well-being opportunities for all, within a well-connected neighbourhood rooted in The Crichton Quarter. With flexibility at the core, this masterplan aims to address the housing needs of an intergenerational community, now and in the future. Providing future-focused homes that meets people’s needs, will support people living life in a place for the long term, enabling encounters across generations. A burgeoning community, comprised of a range of households, will boost local amenities and assets, enhancing localism by offering people more choice to stay, travel and live locally. The Ladyfield Masterplan is shaped by policy, driven by need and powered by people.

Collective is working with Wasps on The Briggait Clydeside Market Halls project, which is set to commence on-site in July 2023. For more information on this development and Collective’s designs for the dynamic new events spaces, click here.

South Block design agency fourtwentyseven won Gold for the Print Design Award. Their publication Fifteen celebrates the last 15 years of creative work at Fourtwentyseven. It is a publication designed to be a celebration of what has been achieved since they opened the doors but also an opportunity to be expressive and inquisitive through our process. The book has been shared with some of their clients and suppliers that they have worked with over the years. Delving deep into their archive system, they have dug out 15 of their most interesting projects, blew the cobwebs off them and got to work re-inventing each from scratch. Using these projects as their basis they have taken the elements from each one, de-constructed the constituent parts and then re-assembled them in a new form, while maintaining their core essence. As well as being a retrospective we wanted this piece of work to create a new perception of how we approach design and we have specifically created a more artistic representation of each project. Fifteen is designed to document how we are able to push boundaries and engage in conversations through creativity and design. This publication highlights aspects of our studio’s award-winning work that are well known and some of projects that might otherwise go unrecorded or unexplored, but it also allows us to document our creative process and gives space to record past and recent trains of thought.

SouthBlock-based design agency Form Digital won Gold for the Web Design Award for their work on Harley of Scotland’s new website. Pioneers of exceptional Scottish knitwear since 1929, Harley of Scotland have gained global recognition for excellence and progression in their advanced knit technology. Harnessing almost a century of textile knowledge and technical expertise spanning three generations of the Harley family – Harley of Scotland are market leaders in seam free whole garment knitwear. Their challenge was to design and build a website that would function as a contemporary celebration of a brand rooted in rich history and passionate, premium craftsmanship that the family-run business prides themselves on. Having established the branding, they worked to digitally translate this to a platform that would best showcase their exquisite, luxurious product range, drive brand awareness and collaborations, and cement their global position as leading producers of seamless knitwear. Their challenge was to design and build a website that would function as a contemporary celebration of a brand rooted in rich history and passionate, premium craftsmanship that the family-run business prides themselves on.

Braw Talent CIC – based at South Block, Glasgow – were awarded Silver for the Design for Good Award for their Delivering for Families? series of short films. It is a compelling series of animations that shed light on the harsh realities faced by vulnerable children and their parents in Scotland. Braw Talent was commissioned by Joseph Rowntree Foundation and Save the Children to transform a report in response to the Scottish Government’s Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan into captivating visual narratives. Their collaborative efforts with the team aimed to convey the report’s key findings and stories in three crucial areas: childcare, benefits, and the cost of living crisis. Our goal was to resonate with individuals experiencing these hardships while evoking an emotional response and fostering a desire for change among policy makers and the general public. Stop motion animation as a medium enabled them to create scripts that encapsulated many stories and characters, respecting the anonymity of participating parents while granting them a sense of ownership. By using recycled materials and papers, they took a tactile approach that added a human and personal touch, heightening the vulnerability of the characters. They invited participating families to provide voiceovers for the film, further emphasising that these narratives belong to real people within our communities.

South Block-based Pim Pam design agency won SIiver for the Design Effectiveness Award. Bature Brewery are Nigeria’s first craft brewery, and pioneers of their craft in West Africa. With a deep connection to the vibrant art, music and culture scene in Lagos, Bature are bringing their own approach on the craft beer movement to a completely new audience — powered from their taproom, bar and brewery on Victoria Island. Pim-Pam have partnered with Bature Brewery to develop and deliver the next chapter of their story — to educate, collaborate and establish themselves as one of the best craft breweries in Africa. With a large percentage of their audience unfamiliar with craft beer, a key role was to not only introduce their products as part of a movement, but to reinforce and establish the core values that Bature Brewery want to communicate to their following. Passion, flavour, innovation, culture and collaboration using local ingredients — while partnering with West African artists and musicians to tell their story. A strategic and creative led project, we worked across design, digital, photography, film and printed collateral to start bringing this idea to life. From creating out-of-home product campaigns and developing their online presence through website, shop and social materials — to creating a library of photography and film collaborating with local creatives that tells their story and works as an education tool on what craft beer is to them, their methods of making it, and serves as a tool for introducing their products to a completely new market.

Click here for the full list of finalists for each award at the Scottish Design Awards 2023.

A major milestone has been reached as Wasps CEO Audrey Carlin signed the construction contract with Michael Scanlon of Clark Contracts, allowing for the repairs and refurbishment of The Briggait’s historic hall spaces to commence at the end of June 2023.

Delivered in two phases, the first phase will see the safeguarding of the roof of the 1899 and 1904 Halls, general repairs to ageing floors and walls, and the installation of new toilet facilities, doors, a café and a reception facing onto Clyde Street. Due to be completed in Spring 2024, these enhancements will open up The Briggait to the Clydeside area and signpost this historic Merchant City landmark from Clyde Street. The 1904 Corner Block on the corner of Merchant Lane and Clyde Street will be completely transformed to create a food and drink offering.

These valuable assets are to be conserved and brought back into public use, allowing communities and visitors to take advantage of the full complement of spaces and activities in the building for many years to come. Wasps intends to expand its events and exhibitions capacity into these two halls from 2024 onwards, in turn bringing more opportunities for the creatives of Glasgow and beyond.

Phase Two will involve the installation of underfloor heating, air source heat pumps, more toilet facilities and a beautiful new entrance on Clyde Street with a landscaped outdoor area for the public to enjoy.

The Briggait Clydeside Market Halls project is only made possible by our generous supporters: Glasgow City Council, Glasgow Heritage, Architectural Heritage Fund, Scottish Enterprise, the Scottish Government, Historic Environment Scotland, the Scottish Landfill Communities Trust and Avondale.

For more information on our plans for The Briggait, click here for the development page or contact projects@waspsstudios.org.uk.

An inviting, flexible and social public space has been installed at Perth Creative Exchange, and now you can have your say on the engagement process and finished designs.

The Perth Creative Exchange Pocket Places project was delivered by Sustrans in partnership with Wasps, North Inch & Muirton Community Council and Perth & Kinross Council. With help from the local community, Sustrans in partnership with the team at Wasps have designed and delivered simple interventions in the outdoor grounds of the building for tenants, residents, and the wider community to connect, be creative and enjoy together.

If you live locally, or connect with the community using Perth Creative Exchange, please tell us your thoughts by completing this online survey. As a thank you for taking part in this survey, you will have the option to enter a prize draw.

Pocket Places supports communities across Scotland to find simple, quick, temporary solutions to improve the look and feel of their streets. By making small-scale changes to local streets, the project hopes to inspire further improvements and encourage communities to apply for other Sustrans support for larger-scale change, such as Street Design or Places for Everyone funding. 

Summer is just around the corner, as is the annual Wasps Summer Market series taking place in Glasgow and Inverness this August.

We are seeking applications from small creative businesses and artists looking to sell their wares at our Summer Markets at Inverness Creative Academy and The Briggait, Glasgow. Dates and times for the markets are as follows:

Inverness Creative Academy: ADDITIONAL DATE ADDED – Friday 18 (4pm–8pm), Saturday 19 & Sunday 20 (10am–4pm) August 2023. Click here to apply to be a stall holder at Inverness Creative Academy’s Summer Market.

The Briggait, Glasgow: Saturday 26 (10am–5pm) & Sunday 27 (10am–4pm) August 2023. Click here to apply to be a stall holder at The Briggait’s Summer Market.

Please note, applications are accepted for the full market dates only. Applications open now until Friday the 23 June, 5pm. Stalls are £45 for Wasps tenants and £75 for non-tenants.

Wasps is delighted to be hosting an exhibition of works by David Page, the 2022 winner of the Highland Art Prize, this October.

This will be in conjunction with An Comunn Gàidhealach and Renfrewshire Council as part of the Royal National Mòd from Friday 13 October to Saturday 21 October 2023 at The Briggait.

The announcement of the 2023 winner of the Highland Art Prize will be made during the Royal National Mòd in Paisley in October this year, with the prize-giving hosted at The Briggait. News of the judges’ panel and the timing of the presentation will be shared on the Highland Art Prize website.

In addition to the cash prize, we are pleased to confirm that the winner of the 2023 Highland Art Prize will have the opportunity to mount an exhibition during 2024 in a street-front space at The Briggait cultural hub in central Glasgow, courtesy of Wasps.

It is with great sadness that we learned of the news of the death of Hugo Burge, one of Wasps Trustees.

Hugo has been a Trustee of Wasps since 2018. As well as a successful entrepreneur who challenged our team to think differently, with ambition but with humility, he was an incredible advocate for the arts through Wasps, his projects at Marchmont House and the Marchmont Makers’ Foundation. He is an irreplaceable personality who will be greatly missed, but leaves behind an incredible legacy both in his work with Wasps and beyond.

The news came as a great shock to all of us at Wasps, fellow Trustees, staff and our artists who have taken part in residencies at Marchmont.

Hugo’s passion and purpose at his beloved Marchmont was to make a home for makers and creators; to shine a light on the incredible diversity of skills, to make it a crucible for creative discussion. His life mission: to create and curate artworks and find spaces for artists to work and thrive.

As a Wasps trustee for the past five years, he brought that same passion, energy and enthusiasm to help us grow creative spaces.  His legacy will live on – not just in places like Marchmont and Wasps’ studios – but in the generations of artists who have been nurtured and inspired by his remarkable spirit.

Our condolences to Hugo’s family and Marchmont Team.

Wasps is seeking an experienced and creative café operator to open up a destination café on the ground floor of our Merchant City location, South Block.

The selected operator should share Wasps’ values and work with us to build a strong bond with our South Block tenants (of which there are over 200 artists and nearly 30 creative businesses) by offering quality, sustainable and great-value products.

South Block is excellently situated within the Merchant City/Trongate area, with most major Glasgow urban visitor and shopping destinations a short walking distance away, making it a prime location for the general public to stop by. Wasps runs a gallery with rotating exhibitions in the same space of South Block’s ground floor, which attracts thousands of visitors yearly.

Interested parties should contact the Wasps Projects team on projects@waspsstudios.org.uk for the brief.

We are pleased to share the news on behalf of LDN Architects that they have been shortlisted for the Architecture Journal’s Retrofit Award 2023. The shortlisting is in recognition of their outstanding work on the former Inverness Royal Academy building in the Crown area of the city.

Externally, the buildings have been restored to the highest conservation standards, with stonemasonry, lime pointing and slate and leadwork all to the fore. As a result, the building’s ornate character has been safeguarded for generations. Internally, the building had been compromised by years of make-shift alterations. LDN pursued a clear vision to strip back this accrual and return the building to a version of itself much closer to its original intent. Crucially, the plan form – a big central hall, flanked by classrooms – was reinstated through deceptively clever fire engineering strategies and is now the beating public heart of the development. The design work has been described as a triumph of pragmatism, with ingenious reimagining of the existing fabric that has resulted in a whole greater than the sum of its parts.

The final result of this transformation has exceeded expectations. A steady stream of visitors to the café and exhibition since the doors were opened in February have commented on a restoration which is sensitive to heritage, whilst being light, modern, and contemporary in feel.

The restored assembly hall was as impressive as it was uplifting. The example of the parquet flooring, and exploitation of natural light and light fittings were evidence of the care and attention to detail throughout. As a former pupil I didn’t recall it as being a ‘bright’ space but never doubted its potential.

The Midmills buildings have been at the forefront of cultural and educational life in the Highlands for over a century. They were however in desperate need of repair having become vacant in 2015. Principally, the project has been about removals rather than additions, thus the embodied carbon involved in the construction is exponentially less than the equivalent new build. Phase 1 was delivered at an impressively low £1,000 per square meter. All of the timber in the building, the predominant new material, is FSC certified and sustainably sourced. It is now the largest sustainable creative arts facility of its type in the Highlands. The project has been used by Historic Environment Scotland as an exemplar in the successful reuse of former school buildings.

The Briggait tenant, Margaret Archbold, spent two weeks on the Isle of Skye at The Admiral’s House in February 2023. We asked her some questions about her stay, and to give insight into what she got from her residency.

• What was your first morning/afternoon/night at the Admiral’s House like?

The first afternoon had that feeling of being let out to play after school has finished for the summer – you know it’s going to rain but you don’t care. That feeling continued for much of the stay. I’ve tried to bring it home with me.

• Did you form a routine?

I settled in quickly, the landscape felt like home. My routine revolved around meals and the weather. With no commitments or obligations, I quickly settled into purely caring for myself – and although a routine was established, it could be broken at a moment’s notice to photograph or draw, or to just stop and watch the sea.

• Who did you meet?

I met very few people and that suited the purposes of my stay. But those I met were great and the sporadic conversations were nourishing. The guest list, a neighbour, a taxi driver, sheep, cattle, robins, dogs (in particular, a collie who ran the length of the road to meet me as I approached his house), a black cat, thrushes and blackbirds… and dolphins.

• Did you go anywhere that really stuck with you?

I walked out onto a tiny peninsula to see remains of an old fort. It wasn’t so much the destination that resonated with me, but rather the walk itself.

• Did you make new work while you were there or did you spend more time researching/developing/contemplating?

I spent a lot of time walking and sitting outside. I had days of purely thinking and     examining my practice from a different point of view, literally! I made a group of sketches and kept a written record of each day.

• Have you been working on anything new since you’ve come back to Glasgow?

I didn’t unpack the art bag until I had been home for around 2 weeks. I have started working from sketches done on Skye. I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about what is coming next. I am working on a slower approach, in many ways.

• Describe your experience of the residency in a maximum of five words.

I can’t do that, sorry ?

• What did you take with you to The Admiral’s House?

Apart from the necessary clothes and general art materials, I took three objects of significance. My leather bag “the coolest bag in the world”, my anniversary edition Opinal knife and my watercolour tin – it’s around 35 years old I think. It was quite liberating to have very little else in the way of important possessions there.

• What did you leave at The Admiral’s House?

I left some of my postcards behind, and a poster of my recent solo show.

Wasps is delighted to welcome award-winning architect Karen Anderson as our charity’s new voluntary chair. Karen succeeds Andrew Burrell who is stepping down after nine years at the helm. Karen brings a wealth of experience as a champion of community and artist engagement in major rural, island and urban regeneration projects, from Gigha to the Gorbals. 

Over the last 30 years she has worked on award-winning commissions ranging from £500,000 to over £25million for charities, private clients and the public sector. Based in Ross-shire, Karen was founding partner of architects Anderson Bell Christie and in 2016 launched ‘hirta’ with partner Bruce Brebner, a portal promoting collaboration between creative disciplines.

She said: “For 46 years Wasps has been making a vital contribution to the wealth and health of our nation by providing affordable, inspirational spaces for thousands of artists and makers. I am delighted to now be part of that evolving story and look forward to working in partnership with all our stakeholders – staff, charity trustees and artists – to spread the word about the importance of our work. We all benefit from art and creativity in our lives. Wasps works throughout Scotland to enable and support artists and those who work in the creative industries to enrich our communities. Wasps’ studios, workspaces and galleries bring life back to empty buildings, making our places more dynamic and helping our communities to thrive”.

Like all our Board trustees, Karen offers her guidance and experience on a voluntary basis for our charity.

Outgoing chair Andrew successful tenure saw the opening of Perth Creative Exchange, Inverness Creative Academy and the regeneration of Granton Station in collaboration with the City of Edinburgh Council.

Andrew said: “It has been a privilege to work with so many talented people. Despite all the challenges, we are still growing as a charity, making a difference to communities through the power of art. I would like to thank everyone who has supported me over the last nine years and wish Karen well as she carries on the torch.”

Audrey Carlin Chief Executive of Wasps said: “We would like to thank Andrew for his passion and dedication and in turn welcome Karen as new chair. We are looking forward to working with Karen as we set out our vision for the future and continue to support the network of talented independent artists and creative businesses across Scotland.”

About Karen Anderson:

• – Previously Chair of Architecture and Design Scotland, Royal Fine Art Commissioner and taught architecture at the University of Strathclyde.
• – Won awards for architecture, urban design and masterplanning projects.
• – Advised Scottish Government on national planning, place and architecture-related policy and local authorities on planning and design strategy.
• – Chaired representatives from public bodies to develop the case for a design strategy for Scotland. V&A Dundee is project­ managing the feasibility study.
• – Worked on major regeneration and development projects including Craigmillar and Sighthill, Edinburgh; Easterhouse, Castlemilk and the New Gorbals in Glasgow; Gigha, Coll, Tiree; Paisley, Clydebank and Stirling.
• – Champion of community empowerment through understanding and involvement in proposals for housing, regeneration and community buildings in their areas; developed tools and methods for participation in the design and development process.
• – Advocate of re-introducing the practice of involving artists in publicly-funded projects; assisted clients to obtain funding to commission artwork
• – Early promoter of landscape and external spaces for well-being, including introducing mini allotments and fruit bearing trees in social housing projects, and green gyms and sensory gardens in health buildings.
• – Experienced in working to retrofit and re-purpose historic and existing buildings
• – Promoter of low carbon, sustainable design; built first mixed-use mass timber building; developed Sustainable Design Guidance for Argyll and for Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park.

A partnership between Wasps and Marchmont Makers Foundation has given two artists the opportunity to be residents on the Marchmont House Estate in The Borders, spanning 10 March to 24 April.

Marchmont Makers Foundation is developing a hub for creators and makers in the region and is expanding its mission to support artists vision. Renovations began on the house in 2011. In 2019 the estate’s stables were converted to artist studios with the former early 20^th century garage transformed into the Marchmont Workshop, for rush seat chair making in a long-standing tradition. Seven full-time artists and craftspeople work from Marchmont, with further expansion planned for the future.

Part of the Marchmont House estate includes the former studio of one of the 20^th century’s most versatile creative figures, polymath Rory McEwan, best known for being a leading figure of the folk revival scene from the late fifties and later a pioneer of botanical and multimedia art. Ally Wallace and Vicki Fleck will have the privilege of working in Rory’s former studio in the village of Fogo, three miles from Marchmont House, during the residency.

Despite having received no formal graduate training in art, Rory McEwen became one of the most gifted botanical artists of any era. His artwork can be found in the collections of major institutions around the world. McEwen balanced a career as a folk musician with his devotion to art until he chose to become a full-time artist in 1964.

Co-winner of the Marchmont residency Vicki Fleck: ‘I am really excited to be part of the Marchmont House residency this year and am looking forward to spending time in Rory McEwen’s studio. I hope to have a daily programme of walking in the estate surrounding the House and returning to the studio to make pieces in response to findings and observations. My aim is to make a number of small pieces – paintings, drawings, embroidery, ceramic and textile pieces around the theme of embellishment and decoration, taking inspiration from local lichens and mosses. I am also excited to see and walk down the longest drive in Scotland!’

Vicki Fleck is an installation artist based in Glasgow who also works part time as a community gardener. She studied Environmental Art at Glasgow School of Art from 1999-2003 and since graduating has had residencies and exhibitions all over Scotland as well as in England, Italy, and Finland. Her work is an embodied response to the landscape; natural and manmade. She makes objects and installations using papier-mâché, ceramics, textiles, drawing, painting, and sound recordings. She often uses found materials such as plants and seeds, sheep’s wool, wood, and clay, and often materials that, if left on site, will change, break down or grow without harming or polluting the environment, but while still leaving a trace.

Capturing impermanent aspects of a landscape, like sound for example, as well as creating artworks that will decay over time are recurring urges; an interest in cycles of life, and entropy. She walks the landscape to find inspiration – the body moving through, or feeling within, a place. She tries to capture this visceral experience of awe or fear or comfort or any number of other emotions that might emerge as well as use aspects of the place’s physical, material reality, that can then act as souvenirs and memory prompts of places visited and experiences had. She currently has work at a community forest near Loch Arkaig in Lochaber and at the Never-ending Glen in Kelburn Estate, Fairlie, both outdoor exhibits (beech log people, and seed impregnated papier-mâché body casts, respectively) have been left to decompose, be occupied by, and become part of, the environment.

Co-winner of the Marchmont residency Ally Wallace: ‘I’m looking forward to arriving at Marchmont and for ideas to begin forming in response to the house and grounds. I intend to use the time to try something new and different in my work.’

Ally Wallace is an artist based in Glasgow. He works across a range of disciplines – including installation, drawing, painting, sculpture and video – to create artworks in response to chosen locations. His works are often exhibited in the spaces to which they relate. A central part of his recent practice has been to initiate his own residency projects, in situations that provide the subject matter for his work. Recent residencies have taken place in a wide range of locations, including an architect’s office, a hydro-electric power station and a football stadium. He is interested in architecture and in the relationship between buildings and their usage.

In addition to his self directed practice, he has also undertaken a number of large scale public art commissions over the years, mostly for new hospitals in Aberdeen, Glasgow, Brighton and Bristol. Throughout his career he has received major awards and has exhibited his work internationally. He graduated with BA (hons) in painting from Sunderland Polytechnic in 1985 and MA in Site-Specific Sculpture (with Distinction) from Wimbledon School of Art, in 1998.

Wasps Chief Executive Officer, Audrey Carlin: ‘This is the third year that Wasps and Marchmont have jointly offered this residency and it’s an honour to be in a position to continue to provide this wonderful opportunity. It’s such a beautiful, diverse and captivating part of the world, a location that has inspired numerous individuals to consider and create. We all wish Vicki and Ally a rewarding and enriching experience.’

Lucy Brown, Managing Director of Marchmont Makers Foundation: ‘Marchmont Makers Foundation is delighted to be working with Wasps to provide another opportunity for artists to spend time working from Fogo Cottage, where Rory McEwen had his studio. We are excited to see what Ally and Vicki explore during their residencies. Previous benefactors of the Wasps x Marchmont residency programme have taken great inspiration from their time here and we hope that our latest visitors have similar fruitful experiences.’

We are delighted to welcome you to Granton Station Creative Works, a cutting-edge creative hub brought to you by Wasps. Located in a former railway station, this affordable and flexible workspace provides the perfect environment for creative industries, freelancers, start-ups, and remote workers to thrive. Wasps is participating in the Granton Station Square Opening Day organised by Edinburgh City Council on Saturday 11 March showcasing the Granton Waterfront regeneration project to the public.

With 24/7 secure building access, high-speed fibre broadband, a meeting room available to hire, dedicated co-working spaces, hot-desking areas, reception, gallery and event space available to hire, access to Wasps’ professional development network, cycle parking, lockers, and showers, Granton Station Creative Works has everything you need that to allow your creative business to grow.

As Scotland’s leading provider of creative spaces, Wasps is dedicated to supporting the creative economy. Join a community of a thousand artists and makers, and over eighty creative businesses and cultural charities already benefiting from Wasps’ 46 years of experience in operating creative workspaces.

Enquiries and registrations are now open for office space and co-working memberships, with a variety of options available, including Fixed Desk Membership, Unlimited Hot-Desk Membership, and 8 Days per Month Hot-Desk Membership. To learn more about Granton Station Creative Works and secure your spot, we invite you to join us for site tours on Saturday 11 March as part of the Granton Station Square Opening Day (11am–2pm) at Waterfront Broadway, Granton, Edinburgh, EH5 1GZ.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to be part of a vibrant network of creatives, designers, photographers, social entrepreneurs, and cultural producers.

For more information, please email lettings@waspsstudios.org.uk or call Wasps on 0141 553 5890 to discuss your needs.

A significant milestone has been achieved as planning officials have approved Wasps’ application to transform the A-listed Clydeside Halls into a new market and event space.  

The new development designed by Collective Architecture seeks to transform the rear halls, corner block and gapsite into a creative industries hub that reconnects the building with the River Clyde and secures this important historical landmark for the city. 

Currently when viewed from Clyde Street, The Briggait is an unloved building with a semi-derelict air, giving no sense to passers-by of the wonderful soaring roof and bright airy spaces. The building – originally constructed between 1873 and 1914 – was used as the city’s fish market and viewed as one of Glasgow’s architectural icons.  This redevelopment will address the ongoing issues with the existing building fabric and safeguard its iconic status as an important building for Glasgow and its people. 

The design aims to create a vibrant and engaging frontage to the River Clyde, providing a flexible, sustainable creative hub to complement and grow the cultural community that has been resident in the developed parts of The Briggait complex since the completion of the first phase by Nicoll Russell Studios in 2009. Wasps currently supports a creative community at The Briggait, with around 150 people already based in the redeveloped part of the building, producing art, architecture, digital design and leading cultural organisations. 

Audrey Carlin, Wasps CEO said: We are so excited to embark on this next chapter at The Briggait and breathe new life into the Category-A listed halls for Glasgow’s creative industries and the public to appreciate. We’re now one step closer to realising the building’s full potential in making space for even more creativity with the news of our plans for The Briggait being approved.

Nicole Davidson, Project Architect said ~: It is a privilege to be working with Wasps and the design team on such an important building for the people of Glasgow and the city itself. Wasps’ vision to bring the currently undeveloped Clydeside halls back into use is an exciting opportunity to breathe life back into these incredible spaces. Through conservation focused fabric repairs and minor interventions, the proposals will both safeguard the existing building, provide flexible spaces to support the creative and cultural sectors and provide a vibrant frontage to the River Clyde.

Read more about this exciting Wasps development project here.

Recent refurbishment works at The Booth in Scalloway are now complete, and the location is open once again for artist residents looking for an inspiring setting in which to create new work.

Both the living space and the studio have been updated including; all new furniture added, the floors sanded and varnished, a new kitchen installed and the lighting improved. The studio has been given a refresh with a new coat of paint.

The Booth was constructed by Scalloway Waterfront Trust in 2001. It was built on the site of a fisherman’s store which was the oldest building in the town. Now converted into a live-work space for visiting artists, The Booth is managed by Wasps in partnership with Shetland Arts Trust. Former residents have often made use of the artist facilities situated close by to The Booth, including printmaking and ceramics resources.

The Booth consists of a combined ‘clean’ working area and living space which is located on the upper level and a stone-walled basement for more ‘dirty’ work. The living accommodation has a fully fitted kitchen, washing machine/tumble dryer and a bathroom with a fully accessible shower. There is a bed space located above the kitchen/bathroom, the sofa also opens up into a double bed and towels and bedlinen are provided.

For more information on The Booth, click here for the location’s webpage. To apply for a residency, click here.

Wasps is proud to announce its first Spring Artist and Makers Market, launching this April.

Due to the growing success and demand for our Summer and Winter markets, and responding to many requests to host an additional event, Wasps is trialling the spring market and we would love to invite all the talented artists and craftspeople from across Scotland to apply.

The market will take place at The Briggait, Glasgow on Saturday the 15^th and Sunday 16^th of April 2023, 10am–5pm. Applications for this market are open now and you can apply here. Deadline for applications is Friday the 10^th of February at 5pm. Applicants will not be notified of their acceptance until after the closing date to allow plenty time for all to apply. The cost to take a stall is £75 for non-tenants and £45 for tenants of Wasps. This includes your 6ft trestle table for both the Saturday and Sunday. Please note – we do not offer one day applications.

For this first month of the new year, we are celebrating Cannonwalls and Claverhouse located in the town of Kirkcudbright in Dumfries & Galloway. Known at the Artists’ Town, Kirkcudbright has a history stretching back to the Victorian era of being a destination for artists and creatives.

Wasps had been looking to set up studios within Dumfries & Galloway for about eight years to meet the high demand for studios there and to extend the network’s geographic spread. Kirkcudbright was an ideal location because of its reputation as an ‘Artists’ Town’, a lasting legacy from the late 19^th Century when an artists’ colony was established by the Glasgow Boys. Wasps were also well aware that there were lots of contemporary artists living and working in the area and some great galleries based in the town.

With support from Dumfries and Galloway Council, Wasps were able to buy two former town houses – Claverhouse and Cannonwalls – when they came on to the market in Kirkcudbright back in 2007, and this linked townhouse development now provides 14 artist studio spaces at affordable rents. They sit in the town’s historic High Street, close to the Tolbooth Arts Centre and near neighbour to the Selkirk Arms Hotel where Robert Burns reputedly wrote his famous “Selkirk grace”. The building of Claverhouse had been owned by a Commander Tweedie and his wife in the 1950s. The gate at the entrance of the building features a dolphin design, which refers to the Commander’s time at sea when he would sail into Hong Kong and Singapore harbours accompanied by a dolphin.

Set in a sheltered position on the estuary of the River Dee on the north Solway shore, the pretty small town of Kirkcudbright takes its name from “Kirk of St Cuthbert”, reflecting the town’s early importance as an ecclesiastical centre. In the 1400s over a quarter of Scotland’s cloth exports were loaded at the quays on the River Dee, bound for destinations as far afield as Spain. Attacks by pirates, the English and a decline in trade saw the town’s fortunes later wobble but by the 1800s it was flourishing again, with a railway arriving in 1864 (now no longer in use). These days Kirkcudbright is perhaps best known as Scotland’s “Artists’ Town”, one of several themed towns in Dumfries & Galloway (along with Wigtown Book Town and Castle Douglas Food Town). Home to distinctive pastel-coloured houses and interesting historical buildings (including the town hall, churches, the Tolbooth art centre, the Old Jail, and the 16th century remains of MacLellan’s Castle right in the centre of town), the local landscape has long attracted artists. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many distinguished artists lived in the town, E.A. Hornel (whose former home is now a National Trust property), Jessie M. King and her husband, E.A. Taylor, and Charles Oppenheimer. It was also the summer haunt of visiting artists, such as Scottish Colourist S.J. Peploe, and the Head of Painting at ECA Robert Burns. It was Burns who said that no student’s training was complete without a stay with the Taylors in Kirkcudbright.

In celebration of ten years of Wasps at Cannonwalls and Claverhouse in 2020, we spent some time in Kirkcudbright and spoke to the artists that work there about their studio experiences. Watch our talk with tenants Cate Cross, Marianne Davidson and Patti Lean below:

Thank you to the Kirkcudbright Historical Society for providing some of the information featured in this article.

The Briggait tenant Karolina Franceschini has installed a series of figurative paintings in the Low Gallery at The Briggait. The statement from the artist reads:

Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, I’ve been haunted by the images pouring in through the news channels. Unbelievable, heartbreaking pictures – those that hit me most were of children, living in some sort of parallel universe to ours, on another plane of existence. They are still kids, but with a striking ability to adopt and live in this unthinkable reality. These four artworks are my reflection on what we are seeing in the news over the past few months. They are not quite finished, because it does not matter. I am experimenting with a new (for me) technique which is a combination of oil and oil pastel on recycled paper, so they are not flawlessly executed, but again it does not matter. It is work I had done for my own peace of mind, relief and empathy.

Alongside her paintings, Karolina has placed a blank sheet of paper and pens for anyone walking past to convey their own thoughts on the subject matter. She wants to provoke some conversation within the Wasps community at The Briggait and any visitors to the building that come across her work.

For this year’s festive season, Wasps offices and receptions at The Briggait and South Block (Glasgow), Perth Creative Exchange and Inverness Creative Academy will close on Friday 23 December 2022 at 5pm. The galleries with exhibitions open to the public will also be closed during this time.

We will reopen on Wednesday 4 January 2023, where regular services will resume. Tenants are free to access their studios/offices as normal over the festive break.

For out-of-hours property related support, tenants can contact Wasps staff either by emailing property@waspsstudios.org.uk or by calling the Glasgow office number (0141 553 5890) where they can access emergency contact information. To log any problems in your building, you can also log into the Tenant Portal and click ‘report a problem’ in the right-hand menu. The Property Team will then respond as soon as they can to address the issue.

In the meantime, we wish you a peaceful and relaxing holiday and a prosperous New Year. We’ll be seeing you in 2023!

We want to congratulate ECA student and fine artist Hannah Joy Grist on being selected as the winner for the first ever SSA x Wasps Award.

Some of the Wasps team visited the Royal Scottish Academy in Edinburgh on Friday 16 December for the SSA’s 130^th Annual Exhibition to select someone from the wide array of work on show spanning print, installation, film, sculpture and painting by the country’s fine artists.

We were struck by the scale and ingenuity of Hannah’s radiator sculptures Self Neglect in the Comfort Zone I & II, and the skill that had gone into manipulating such unwieldy objects by stacking and bending the metal so precisely. Our new Project Coordinator (Arts) Caitlin Callaghan was excited to be a part of the judging process in selecting Hannah to receive this prize for the first time.

Well done to all the participating artists and the SSA on a fantastic show, and congratulations to everyone that also won a prize on the night, including The Briggait tenant Lynsey MacKenzie who won a show at TATHA Gallery in Fife next year. We look forward to working with Hannah in 2023 to host an exhibition of her work at The Briggait. Due to her vast variety within her practice, we are keen to see how she uses this opportunity at The Briggait to take her work to the next step. She was also winner of the SSA New Graduate award.

You can visit the SSA’s 130th Annual Exhibition at the Royal Scottish Academy until Tuesday 10 January 2023. Click here to visit the SSA website for more information.

Nairn, a town in the Scottish Highlands about twenty miles west from Inverness, finds its origins as an ancient fishing port. It’s understood that settlers arrived around ten thousand years ago, its strategic location forming the backdrop of many significant events throughout Scotland’s history. Relics of Pictish worship dot the landscape, and centuries-old castles, home to many kings and queens, can be found just down the road.

Nowadays, the town of Nairn is home to approximately ten thousand people (including actor Tilda Swinton) and is known for its scenic beaches and vibrant literary scene. There’s a wealth of inspiration for artists and creatives to be found in Nairn.

Links Studios, formally the Links Primary School, is on Grant Street, three-minutes walk from Nairn’s beautiful beach. Built in 1851, children from the surrounding Fishertown area passed through the Links School for their education. During busier fishing seasons, attendance was less regular for pupils as they were put to work at the port.

The school closed in the late 1960’s, before Wasps reopened the building in 2015 as Links Studios, providing eight studios and one creative business office. The studio building also features a project space that is used by the tenants and locals for workshops and exhibitions.

Though the number of artists working at Links is small, the community is close-knit and passionate. The tenants at Links include painter and tapestry maker Catriona Coghill, illustrator Meaghann Harris, painter Shaun MacDonald and sculptor Emily Coulson.

If you’d like to see the studios for yourself and arrange a visit, contact lettings@waspsstudios.org.uk or click here to see our currently available spaces.

In our contemporary world where your attention is consistently under pressure, divided, fed back to you, Pauley asks, how possible is it to capture optimal experience or is its delicious elusive promise just enough to keep us going? Or, I wonder, what would it mean, with all its privileges, to stop, lie down and rest a while, feel the soft weave against your cheek, and let your mind wander?

Glasgow-based writer Caitlin Merrett King was commissioned by Wasps to write about Sophia Pauley’s solo exhibition FLOW MATTERS at The Briggait this month. The artist and the writer spoke online before meeting in person at the opening on a dark winter night. Caitlin’s writing moves between experimental reflections on images or sensations conjured by Sophia’s work for the show, and more descriptive prose that situates the reader inside the gallery space to talk about ‘flow’ – a headspace in which a person becomes completely immersed in an activity to the point that nothing else matters. Both Sophia’s sculptural installations (informed by her time spent as a competitive swimmer) and Caitlin’s writing appeal to this state of being.

Caitlin Merrett King is a writer and programmer based in Glasgow. She has published writing with Sticky Fingers, MAP Magazine and Pilot Press. Her debut novella Always Open, Always Closed will be published by JOAN in early 2023.

Sophia Pauley is a British artist, brought up in Cardiff and currently in her second year of her MA studying Painting at Royal College of Art in London. She graduated from Edinburgh University with a BA Hons in Painting in 2018 and was the recipient of the ACS Studio Award. Recent exhibitions include: 196^th RSA Annual Exhibition, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh (2022); Immersions, Robinson’s College Cambridge (2022); RAW, Soho Revue, London (2022); Re-Connect, SSA, Online (2021) and Artists In Transit Auction for Refuge (2021).

A huge congratulations to LDN Architects for winning the Highlands and Islands Architectural Association Award for New Life for Existing Building last night!

This award was given in recognition of their incredible work on Inverness Creative Academy, and the transformation of the former Royal Academy building that they oversaw to provide artists’ studios, workspaces for creative industries, as well as publicly accessible meeting, events, exhibition, café, and workshop space.Inverness Creative Academy is now the largest sustainable creative arts facility and community resource of its type in the Highlands and has been developed with, and for, the local creative community. The restoration, carried out by Robertson Construction Northern, created 32 artist studios, a community run traditional darkroom, and a large events space in the former Gym Hall. Externally, an innovative approach was taken whereby existing fabrics and fixtures were reused and repurposed rather than removed and replaced. It also upgraded services in the building to make it universally accessible for the first time.

Mid November’s Albion Expo 2022 offers the unprecedented opportunity to explore Edinburgh’s hidden creative hub at Albion Business Centre, and to meet its eclectic range of designer-makers and artists within their studio environs.

Visit Albion Expo on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 November. For more information on the event and to book a free slot to attend, click here.

For the first time a wealth of multidisciplinary artists, designers, craft professionals from Unit 1, Unit3, Unit 5, Unit8 and WASPs operating around the cobbled yard (which historically housed James Dunbar’s soda bottling yard) are throwing open their doors to welcome in industry professionals and the public alike. Visitors can engage with skilled craft practitioners, fine artists, ceramicists, sculptors, jewellers, furniture designer makers, glass artists, architects, screen printers, plasterwork specialists, textile designers amongst others, whose considerable material knowledge and practices make an invaluable contribution to Scotland’s cultural life and beyond.

This nascent annual event has grown from featuring the fine woodworking skills at Units 5 & 8, to encompass the breadth of talent within studios and workshops across 5 adjacent units, who have never before offered public access together. The pop-up gallery will feature work developed last May by Finbarr Lucas during Unit 5’s first furniture residency programme. This is an unprecedented opportunity to meet the makers, see inside their studios, engage directly in craft demonstrations, purchase work for your home or seasonal gifts, discuss a commission, book your spot on a craft course or just head along for a good old nosey of the unparalleled diversity and quality of Albion’s combined talents.

Follow Albion Expo on Instagram here, and find the building on Maps here.

Due to the age of the buildings, only Unit 5 and the pop-up gallery are wheelchair accessible. For safety, if you plan to travel by car please park in the streets outwith the gates of the Albion Business Centre yard.

Perth Creative Exchange is excited to be opening the community garden in partnership with Sustrans, a great charity that supports walking, cycling and wheeling activities across the UK.

As the new community garden at Perth Creative Exchange nears completion, it’s time to come together to find the best way for it to flourish as a welcoming, inclusive space that is run by local people and open for everyone. That’s where Friends of Perth Creative Exchange comes in! Whether it’s mowing the grass, organising volunteer rotas, welcoming groups who are using the garden, or just being keen to roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty, all skills and abilities are welcome.

Everyone from the local community is welcome to participate in the meetings. Join us for a meeting to help shape the group’s purpose and future at one of the following times: Saturday 29 October, 11am-12:30pm (online on Zoom), Monday 31 October, 12:30pm-2pm (in-person at Perth Creative Exchange) and Wed 2 November, 5:30pm-7pm (online on Zoom). The in-person session is drop-in. Register for one of the online sessions at https://tinyurl.com/PCX-FoG-meeting.

From watercolours to woven willow, ceramics to seaweed, Newburgh’s Art & Design Market on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 November promises something for everyone. Twelve diverse artists and makers from Fife and Perthshire will be displaying their works, discussing their techniques and doing demonstrations at The Steeple Studios, 67 High Street, Newburgh, Fife. With free entry, disabled access and refreshments, the Steeple’s Art & Design Market is the perfect opportunity to meet some of Scotland’s talented makers and find an unusual gift for someone special. Visit 12pm–4pm both days.

Demonstrations include creative blacksmithing with Jim Shears, wildlife watercolours from Liz Harvey and a chance to make your own eye-catching 20 point paper Christmas star with hat-maker and textile artist, Jeanette Sendler. Handcrafted and locally made gifts for the home include ceramics from porcelain specialist Gavin Burnett and potter Alison McIntyre, and beautiful woven willow baskets from Donald Spy and knitted creations made by award-winning Nervous Stitch, Jenny McHardy. There will be a chance to see St Andrews-based charcoal artist, Janice Deary at work as she prepares for an exhibition in Edinburgh in 2023 and paintings by Paul Dodman and Hazel MacLeod. More unusual artworks include the colourful digital-hybrid fossils of the future by Katie Hallam member of the Royal Society of Sculptors and copper-coated seaweed by Cally Nurse, recent Masters of Fine Art graduate from Duncan of Jordanstone Art College, Dundee.

“Make a day of it and explore Newburgh’s high street which has interesting independent shops to browse,” said Cally Nurse, tenant artist at The Steeple. “The recently re-opened vintage treasure trove Red Fox Studio/Underneath The Arches, The Sun Gallery and Framers for paintings, crafts and cards, all thing eco and re-fills at Juniper, fabrics and sewing supplies at Minerva and our very own local charity shops!”

The Steeple is one of 20 characterful and historic buildings in Scotland run by the UK’s largest provider of studio and creative spaces Wasps (Workshop and Artists’ Studio Provision Scotland). This month we wrote a profile on The Steeple for the Space of the Month series, which you can read here.

*We have extended our exhibition Campbell, Peacock, Taylor until this weekend sat 22nd & sun 23rd Oct 11-6pm. Artists Mark Campbell, Craig Peacock & John Taylor show paintings, drawings, prints and stained glass in their Gallowgate studios exhibition over its 3 Floors.*

A select group of tenants from the Gallowgate Studios group at East Campbell Street have staged an exhibition that is now open for visitors. Mark Campbell, Craig Peacock and John Taylor have brought together new paintings, drawings and works of stained glass across the three floors of the building. Stop by the studios at East Campbell Street, G1 5DT over the the following weekends; Saturday 8 & Sunday 9, Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 and Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 October (11am–6pm each day) or by appointment during the week.

As a student Mark Campbell studied Drawing & Painting, graduating with Honours from Glasgow School of Art in 1984. ?Since then his practice has included Sculpture and Printmaking as well as Stained Glass and Graphic Design. ?He also voluntarily ran the Pentagon Gallery and founded an experimental space called the Whitehouse Glasgow.

John Taylor was born in Darvel, Ayrshire, in 1936. He has been painting, printmaking and exhibiting since leaving Glasgow School of Art in 1959. During these 55 years of creativity the work has undergone many quite dramatic changes in content and style.

The ideas behind Craig Peacock‘s work encompass a breadth of thought which is reflective and encircles notions of time within the process of painting. Painting is linear yet past, present and future possibilities are all held in convergence. My influences have been classical and contemporary from mythology to metaphor garnering from the human experience. I use a range of materials working towards conclusions as oil paintings, though each preparatory work is a conclusion in itself. Each work forms a narrative visual diary which accumulates and inspires.

The Wasps Arts Programme 2023 will focus on providing our tenants with the opportunity to exhibit work or experiment with new ideas and we now invite applications from artists and makers who would like to participate in the forthcoming programme. Seventeen exhibition slots of varying lengths (three up to eight weeks) are available across our three galleries – The Briggait (Glasgow), Perth Creative Exchange and Inverness Creative Academy.

In 2022 as we emerged from the pandemic we were able to welcome more people into our spaces and support more artists with exhibitions.  Further to this, with the opening of Inverness Creative Academy, we saw exhibition sales soar with increased footfall from residents and tourists and we are keen to continue building on this momentum.

These exhibition slots come with the following support: an artist fee of £300 per exhibition, optional public preview event, marketing and social media support (subject to information and images being provided on time by the exhibitor) including:

• A listing in the bi-annual printed programme
• A listing on Wasps “what’s on” section of website
• Printed exhibition material including 50x A3 Posters (artist to provide copy), price labels and a floorplan/inventory
• Inclusion in a seasonal, regional outdoor poster campaign
• For those that wish to make their work available to purchase, Wasps will facilitate all exhibition sales, including those through the Own Art Scheme (read more about it here on the Wasps Tenant Portal). The commission rate for this is 25% Wasps, 75% artists, and artists are paid the commission by the usual invoice raising process. Further details for all of the above will be provided to successful applications through an artist agreement contract.

To view the available slots and submit an application, click here. The deadline for applications is Tuesday 15 November, 5pm. Applicants will be informed of the outcome by Thursday 15 December.

The Steeple is an award-winning arts facility in Newburgh, a picturesque town on the south bank of the River Tay in north east Fife.

The original building comprised of the Town Hall and Steeple dates back to 1808, and is situated on Newburgh’s High Street. Originally used as the central municipal building for the town, The Steeple would be used as a corn exchange, a theatre and a council meeting point before Wasps acquired the building and completed refurbishment in 2008. The original Palladian window is now encompassed wholly within the stairwell and the existing stone wall, with all its history of previous alterations left exposed and a view of the courtyard in the centre.

Surrounding The Steeple is the town of Newburgh, which is known for its fishing and linen-making industries reaching back centuries. A couple of streets away from the River Tay, the building is neighbours with the local Co-op, the Tayside Institute Community Centre and a coffee shop. Down the street from The Steeple is the Sun Gallery, a small contemporary art gallery and framers that showcases a variety of wok by local artists. Further afield is an eco-refill shop and Lindores Abbey Distillery.

There is a close-knit group of artists that call The Steeple their creative home. Among them is ceramicist and porcelain specialist Gavin Burnett, who makes beautiful functional objects using the battuto glass-cutting technique to create eye-catching designs.

Carolyne Nurse lives in Newburgh and works with washed up seaweed from beaches in Fife and Angus. She will receive specialist training in working with metal and electro-forming in copper and silver to make sculptures that reference and include seaweed within them. She makes and sells her work through her business, Tang.

Anne Magnus-Bennett is jewellery-maker and the tenant rep for The Steeple. She makes work from her studio in Wasps that’s inspired by nature and Scottish history.

Janice Deary is originally from South Africa, and has made Scotland her home. A tenant at The Steeple, Janice recently completed her MFA at DJCAD, and will be exhibiting in Patriothall next year.

If you’d like to visit The Steeple or find out more about renting a studio, click here or contact lettings@waspsstudios.org.uk.

Wasps tenants at Hanson Street and The Briggait are excited to be inviting you into their creative spaces next month. Stop by each location over the two weekends and see these unique buildings and the artistic communities that they host. The Wasps Open Studios events are free to attend, and all are welcome.

Visit Hanson Street Studios at 77 Hanson Street, Glasgow on Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 October, 11am-4pm both days.

Visit The Briggait at 141 Bridgegate, Glasgow on Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 October, 11am-5pm both days.

Wasps has been shortlisted for two awards given by Glasgow City Council and the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce this year, with the winners being announced at a black-tie event this October. It’s an honour for Wasps to be named amongst the best of businesses in the city, and we thank everyone who voted for us and the Chamber of Commerce for the recognition.

Wasps was first shortlisted for the Community Wealth Building Award alongside two other businesses (Kibble and Pest Solutions), before receiving the news that we’d been shortlisted for the prestigious Glasgow’s Favourite Business Award. Our commitment to protecting artistic jobs and providing affordable dedicated studios and offices through the pandemic has been commended, as well as our mission to reclaim historically significant buildings across Scotland and refurbish them into thriving cultural spaces. This particular nomination is momentous because it’s governed by a public vote, so we thank everyone who voted for us.

From CEO Audrey Carlin on the nomination: “It’s about keeping talent in Scotland and allowing people to have sustainable creative careers. Wasps has been around for 45 years and we’ve supported a whole creative community for that length of time in four buildings across Glasgow, with probably about 500 creative people. So it’s fantastic to have ourselves and our creative community recognised as being a favourite business.”

To vote for us to win the award for Glasgow’s Favourite Business, click here and select us to win before Thursday 15 September at 5pm.

Good luck to our fellow nominees; Glasgow Science Centre, Silverburn, Sprigg, Glasgow Central Hotel and Marshall Travel Ltd. See you in October!

Painter and West Park Place tenant Carolyn Burchell is set to open an exhibition of new work under the title In Nature at the Kirkcudbright landmark, the Tolbooth. Visit the exhibition at the Kirkcudbright Tolbooth Art Centre, 14 September–1 October.

In Nature is an exhibition of paintings mainly in acrylic which includes small and miniature wood panels of nature in close-up of leaves, fungi, flora and bees displayed in a glass case. The work has evolved from visits to parks, gardens and wooded areas throughout Scotland, many in Edinburgh, where Carolyn often draws in sketchbooks. The artist aims to capture fleeting movement, pattern, light and shadow, with colour and composition of key importance. She is attracted to mysterious corners and slightly overgrown pathways, suggesting an element of fantasy.

Carolyn Burchell was born in Edinburgh where she has rented a studio at the Wasps location in Dalry since 1996. She studied Drawing and Painting at Edinburgh College of Art in the 1980s to post-graduate level and from 2009-10 at Glasgow School of Art for a Master of Research.

a shade is a shade by writer Sara O’Brien is now available for you to pick up from the current Briggait exhibition Chronochromia by Lynsey MacKenzie, which is open until Friday 2 September.

Sara was commissioned by Wasps to write a piece of text on the occasion of Chronochromia‘s opening. The brief for the style of writing was kept open, and Sara created a beautiful work of art writing located in Lynsey’s paintings. Sara visited Lynsey in her studio to speak about the influence of time and colour on her practice, and meditated on the body of paintings that make up the show before writing a shade is a shade. The text finds inspiration in the planes of Lynsey’s work, and complements the exhibition’s expanses of colour and cadence.

Umbers, oranges, indigos, akin to the cloak they watch drift above them, cycling through chromatic flutterings, while they ponder the dual proximities of space. – Sara O’Brien

Read the text below, or pick up a copy from The Briggait galleries while Chronochromia is open. The printed version is on a peach-pink paper – a choice of the writer’s that was influenced by the historical significance of this particular colour; it is estimated to be the oldest (around one billion years old) pigment found by archaeologists digging beneath the Sahara Desert.

Sara O’Brien is a writer based between Dublin and Glasgow.

Lynsey MacKenzie lives and works in Glasgow and graduated from Glasgow School of Art in 2019 with a BA (Hons) in Fine Art: Painting and Printmaking. Recent exhibitions include ‘Platform: 2022’, Edinburgh Art Festival, Edinburgh (2022), ‘UNMUTE’, Society of Scottish Artists, Dunoon (2022), ‘Royal Scottish Academy Annual Exhibition’, Online (2022); ‘REVERB’, Visual Arts Scotland, Online (2022). Recent awards include the Wilhelmina Barns-Graham Award, the RSA Latimer Award, and the RSA x Wasps Award.