Savills: How affordable workspaces are helping to nurture Scotland’s creative talent
Clare Bailey, a director in the Savills commercial research team shared her research with NovaLoca on affordable workspace in Scotland and the creative industry
How affordable workspaces are helping to nurture Scotland’s creative talent
Scotland’s creative industries contribute more than £5 billion to the Scottish economy every year – with the Economic Strategy identifying creative industries as a growth sector where Scotland can build on existing advantages to increase productivity and growth.
Scotland’s creative industries comprise over 15,000 businesses employing more than 70,000 people made up of a large number of freelancers as well as students studying creative courses. Together they make an important contribution to the national wealth and international reputation of Scotland. Providing affordable and interesting workspaces is therefore crucial to ensuring that Scotland is at the forefront of the tech and creative industries, and a draw for national and international talent. Proactive local authorities that recognise existing resources and create mechanisms to support new, affordable programmes will have a direct impact on the local area and job creation post-pandemic.
Meanwhile…
There is a realisation that nurturing and supporting creative talent requires joined up thinking and a willingness of public and private sectors to work together to provide affordable workspaces for this sector, as well as others. As property owners, councils often have unused or underused assets that can be repurposed as workspace, either for long-term use or as ‘meanwhile’ space awaiting redevelopment. Both private developers and planners should also encourage the use of meanwhile space prior to development. This is a good opportunity for providers to test their concept, to provide a service to the local community, and to brand a site while it is undergoing redevelopment.
A prime example is EP Spaces, which is Edinburgh Printmakers’ national network of affordable meanwhile spaces for artists and creative communities to work with landlords across Scotland, bringing disused shops, offices and retail units back to life with new purpose and vitality. They have been highly effective in creating buzzing spaces in the heart of towns and cities that can often have limited affordable workspaces for creative people. The High Street Area Strategy, City Property and Glasgow City Council have also been trialling a Meanwhile Use initiative. The purpose of this initiative is to show that there are innovative ways to bring vacant units into use and to animate the area. Most meanwhile spaces use tenants on the High Street and Saltmarket are from the creative communities, so they bring a distinct offer to the area.
Scottish heritage
Repurposing older buildings that are already in the right location is a sustainable and cost effective way to develop affordable workspaces. The use of more historic buildings that offer some form of heritage and cultural belonging can help to reinvigorate communities. According to Historic England, links to a place with history can improve a sense of wellbeing – creating spaces that enhance the physical and mental health and wellbeing and connect us to our community.
Glasgow-based Wasps is Scotland’s largest creative community providing inspiring spaces and places. As an organisation, they offer studio space to around 900 artists, 25 arts charities and 33 creative businesses at 19 historic locations across Scotland, for more than 800 tenants from Shetland to the Borders. Wasps specialises in finding creative, economic and positive community use for heritage buildings, which may otherwise be lost.
One of Wasps key projects is the redevelopment of half of the Briggait Market Halls complex, where they have created artists’ studios, offices and exhibition space for Glasgow’s arts community. Up to 150 creative people now work at the Briggait daily. The restored 1873 hall also hosts a range of cultural, community and social events and activities throughout the year.
It isn’t just key cities that are embracing creative space, we have also seen the trend move out to more rural locations. Creative Academy is their £5.7m flagship project in the Highlands, based in the two B-listed Inverness Royal Academy ‘Midmills’ buildings in the heart of the city. The two-phase Inverness project aims to boost the economy by bringing together artists, makers and creative companies in a high-profile centre with the facilities they need to flourish. The project is already showing its worth by providing high-quality, affordable workspace to locally based people who want to live and work in the Highlands but unable to find studios.
CABN (Creative Arts Business Network), a Place Partnership project funded by Creative Scotland, is another key example of an initiative to grow and nurture the creative sector. Set in the Scottish Borders, it offers a diverse support programme of support that seeks to strengthen the sector by working towards longer term strategic goals.
Another approach…
Deveron Arts, a contemporary arts organisation, has found another way to create space. Its venue is an entire town! The small market town of Huntly in the north east of Scotland (population 4,500) acts as studio, gallery and stage for artists of all disciplines invited from around the world to live and work there.
Ultimately…
Investment in social and cultural infrastructure though the provision of affordable workspaces will become even more important post-pandemic with community and collaboration becoming key ingredients. Proactive local governments that recognise existing resources and create mechanisms to support new ideas will have a direct impact on the local area, job creation and the environment.
Essentially, by connecting with the community, embracing its heritage, nurturing and celebrating local skills, craft and culture, that is when an area will see authentic social and economic value.
