Brush-up for treasured mural

Published on Friday 15 December 2006 12:55

A TREASURED 1930s mural at a former primary school hit by fire is set to be unveiled as part of a new £3 million arts and community centre.

The painting by Scottish artist John Maxwell had adorned the dining room wall at Craigmillar Primary School since its creation in 1935, but was feared to be facing the scrapheap when the school closed seven years ago.

Although plans to demolish the school were dropped in 2000 when Historic Scotland gave the building B-listed status, the giant artwork has spent years lying neglected in the disused campus - which has been hit by frequent fire-raising attacks by vandals.

But now, after extensive restoration work to bring it back to its former glory, the historic mural is set to take pride of place in a specially-created art gallery in the refurbished building.

The mural, which measures 30ft by 15ft, shows an idyllic vision of children dashing out of school to play in the rural Craigmillar landscape of the 1930s.

Alister Steele, managing director of Castle Rock Edinvar, who led the redevelopment, said

: "The new centre has been built in the old school building, so we wanted to keep the mural, which was part of the plasterwork in the dining room wall.

"However, it had obviously been varnished in the past, which had faded the colours and given it a brown tinge.

"It didn't look anything like it did in its heyday, so we brought in a team of restorers, who have done a magnificent job.

"They've restored it back to its original colours, and now it looks like a proper focal point for the gallery, which has been created in the old dining room.

"But we're also delighted to have been able to give this historic building a new lease of life.

"The school has been at the heart of the Craigmillar community for more than 50 years, and the redevelopment will ensure that it remains so.

"It will also give talented artists, business people and support groups in the area the opportunity to access vital resources and support."

The centre features office spaces for local support and social enterprise groups, a nursery for 50 children and a community arts space which incorporates the gallery and a theatre. Craigmillar Community Arts is also operating a community archive and resource centre in the building.

The restored mural was due to be unveiled today by Dr Richard Holloway, the joint board chairman for the Scottish Arts Council and Scottish Screen.

Dr Holloway said: "I have been involved in this project for a number of years, and I am delighted to see the finished results.

"The arts have played an important role in Craigmillar for many years, and with this fantastic new facility, Craigmillar Community Arts can further extend the breadth and range of the arts activities they offer."

Groups such as the Direct Music Project, which provides music therapy for disabled children, and Carrgomm, an agency working to support people with special needs, have already opened offices in the centre. Other care and support companies are currently in negotiations about operating in the building.

The project has been set up to complement a wider 180m plan to regenerate Craigmillar, which will see 3600 new homes, four new schools, a library and a remodelled town centre created in the area.

John Quinn, general manager with PARC, which is overseeing the regeneration, said: "It is great to see other regeneration activity happening in the area."