Fundraising hope for Orkney art and design centre

Organisers are hopeful of buying and adapting the former Ortak workshop and visitor centre in Kirkwall. Picture: TSPL

Organisers behind the Orkney Creative Hub project are looking to raise £1 million by April to buy and adapt the former Ortak workshop and visitor centre in Kirkwall.

The Creative Hub aims to provide a central location for education, development and enterprise opportunities for artists, designers and crafters of all ages and abilities, across many disciplines, from within and outwith Orkney.

The initiative - driven by Orkney Crafts Association, Orkney Arts and Crafts and the not-for-profit art shop, For Arts Sake - has been set up as a Community Interest Company, ensuring its assets will stay within the community. Any profits from the project will be distributed to local charities.

Jan Judge, the project lead and spokeswoman For Arts Sake, said: “Orkney has a long established creative heritage, but this will be the first time we’ll have a central site where established artists and makers can promote their work.

“It’ll also be a place where the community will have access to the resources needed to develop their individual creativity, and will offer support and mentoring to anyone who wishes to turn their talent into a business.

“Importantly, the Hub’s outreach programme will allow us to support artists and makers in the outer isles and bring the exhibitions to the wider community.”

Jan said the Hub would provide supported volunteering and employment opportunities for those less able to join the workplace, in addition to offering new creative experiences.

Heather Croy, from Orkney Crafts Association, added: “Inclusivity is very much the ethos of this project.

“The space will allow us to include a range of educational facilities not found elsewhere in the islands, covering, for example, teaching and instruction in ceramics, jewellery making and textiles.

“The Hub, which has been a vision of Orkney’s creative community for well over a decade, will also provide opportunities for those outwith the County to access the facilities throughout the year, lending support to the remote economy and extending the tourist season.”

According to Heather, the old Ortak building offered a central and accessible site that could encompass a wide range of activities, from a retail shop, gallery and exhibition space, to educational and business start-up workshop areas, and a cafe for meeting and performance use.

The project team - currently making approaches to a wide range of potential external funders - is keen to offer the Orkney community opportunities to support the initiative at an affordable level.

Clive Horton, of Orkney Arts and Crafts, said: “We’re asking members of the community if they could sponsor a square foot of the Ortak building for £10, with the aim of raising around £250,000.

“We only have exclusivity on the Ortak premises until April and then it’ll go back on the open market. It’s a challenge, but we’re hoping the people of Orkney will see the value of the project and help us secure the building to make this dream come true.”