Wasps acquired the Category B Listed Victorian Midmills buildings in the centre of Inverness in 2018, which had been vacant for three years.
The project is delivered in two phases. Phase 1, the ‘artists and makers’ wing, was completed in November 2018. Phase 2 provides the ‘creative industries’ wing, is now complete, and will open the buildings to the public for the first time in their history.
To see the progress on how the project has been completed and for more information please click here.
32 artist spaces
54 creative offices
meeting rooms
exhibition spaces
disabled access
event hire
Phase 1 – ‘artists and makers’ wing:
The first phase of the building returned the 1913 Arts & Science Extension to use as the ‘artists and makers’ wing, providing 32 artist’s studios, a community-run photography darkroom, a designated workshop space for classes and an events/exhibition space in the refurbished Gym Hall. This building is now fully let to over 30 Highlands based artists and creatives. For more information about exhibitions and events coming up in the Gym Hall and other Wasps venues visit the arts page here.
“Inverness badly needed this creative space, and it couldn’t be better placed here at the Midmills building. My early art college years were spent in this building…it‘s great to see that it retains a lot of its original features and character.” – Sharon Scobbie, artist tenant at Inverness Creative Academy
Phase 2 – ‘creative industries’ wing:
Phase 2 of Inverness Creative Academy is now complete. Wasps has been fundraising for the final phase which has restored the original 1895 Academy building. This stage completes Wasps’ vision to deliver a vibrant creative destination to serve the whole of the Highlands. We have secured most of the money required to complete our Midmills transformation, but still have funds to raise to reach our overall target.
Phase 2 provides:
• 54 workspaces for creative industries and cultural social enterprises including long term office space
• Flexible co-working spaces for 26 creatives
• Public exhibition, events and workshop spaces on two levels overlooking the hall
• Fully accessible meeting rooms and facilities for hire
• Public café within the restored, double height, former Assembly Hall
If you are interested in taking space in Phase 2 of Inverness Creative Academy, you can download full details on available studios here. For more information including rents and viewings, please email: lettings@waspsstudios.org.uk.
Supported By
being a wasps tenant
With over 40 years worth of expertise, we are the UK’s largest provider of affordable studio space for artists and creative industries.
Tenants of the Wasps community receive the following benefits:
- Affordable studio prices with no hidden costs – utilities and Wifi are all inclusive in artist studios (rates apply for creative offices)
- Building security – all our buildings are either owned or on long term rentals
- 24/7 secure access all year round
- Part of our community of almost 1,000 artists and creatives in our 20 buildings across Scotland
- Exhibiting and selling opportunities through our Arts & Enterprise programme including:
- Exhibitions – over 50% of artists exhibited in our gallery programmes are tenants
- Makers Markets
- South Block shop
- Open Studios
- Art Fairs
- Ability to join our Own Art scheme
- Support and expertise from Wasps’ staff team
- Promotion on our website with an artist profile
accessibility & getting here
accessibility
Inverness Creative Academy is fully accessible, across both phases of the building.
address
Midmills Building
Stephen's Street
Inverness
IV2 3JP
getting here
As an organisation we are committed to assisting our tenants and building users to access green and sustainable modes of transport when travelling to and from our buildings, and to reduce the environmental impact of, in particular, single-user car journeys. We encourage cycle travel and Inverness Creative Academy is well connected with public transport, less than a ten minute walk from Inverness Train Station and Inverness Bus Station. It is important to note that during construction of the final phase of Inverness Creative Academy, there is no car parking space available for visitors to the building. The nearest car park is at Eastgate Shopping Centre.
