Edinburgh’s Collective Gallery is going up in the world – to Calton Hill to be precise, where it will take up residence in the former City Observatory. Sitting atop one of the city’s seven volcanic formations, this prestigious new address will afford it fantastic views across Scotland’s capital.
More importantly, though, it will provide the artist-led gallery with space to grow, as Director Kate Gray explains. “It’s like we’re wearing a pair of shoes that are too small for what are now bigger feet, which have larger steps to make. Our current premises can no longer accommodate the scope we have for an expanding programme.”
While the big move up the hill is definitely happening and work is underway to prepare for Collective’s arrival in the summer, partner funds for the project still need to be raised. Hence the Collective Gallery Fundraising Auction, hosted by auction house Lyon & Turnbull on Thursday 14 March, and featuring work by, amongst others, Bob and Roberta Smith, Bedwyr Williams, Jeremy Deller, Joanne Tatham & Tom O’Sullivan, Shelly Nadashi and Sarah Tripp.
“We’re auctioning the work of artists whom we have built relationships with over the years,” says Gray. “It’s a great model for bringing in new partners and a fantastic way of telling the story of Collective, since its beginnings in 1984 right up to the supporting of newer artists in Scotland today.”
Starting life as The Artists Collective Gallery, Collective was founded by a group of painters graduating from Edinburgh College of Art. It was born out of the need for continued peer support and exhibiting possibilities outside of art school. Initially on High Street, part of the city’s famous Royal Mile, the gallery then moved to its current location on Cockburn Street, over the road from Stills gallery.
On the eve of Collective’s third move, the gallery – which is supported by Creative Scotland and Edinburgh City Council – seems more relevant than ever to Scotland’s cultural landscape. It is expanding its international programme and has become increasingly visible locally through off-site initiatives such as its One Mile Project, which saw it engaging with the community in the surrounding area. Through the New Work Scotland Programme (NWSP) it continues to facilitate accessible peer group structures.
Space to adapt and change
“Since beginning my directorship in 2008, I’ve been aware of Collective’s legacy in Edinburgh’s art scene and its role in adapting to the developing needs of artists here,” says Gray. “I’m also conscious of possibilities in terms of audiences. We do well to produce shows but we need more capacity to better communicate why we work with certain organisations and artists. The move to the City Observatory will give us space to clarify our programme physically, so audiences can better understand our position as we adapt to changing contexts.”
Collective will move into its new space in stages, as each building on the land is conserved and transformed for its new purpose. “Our first step is to move in to the the City Dome on the north side of the Observatory, a succinct five-metre squared space to house the more established programme,” explains Gray.
Next, new offices and a dedicated space for the New Work Scotland Programme will be created in the domed, central Playfair Building, which is currently home to the existing observatory equipment. Finally, the inner gardens will be landscaped and the smaller dome spaces will be adapted into what Gray describes as “residency pods for visiting artists.”
Prior to moving into the City Dome, the gallery will take up temporary residence in a purpose-built space just outside the Observatory complex. A series of new audio works, commissioned by the gallery, will offer guided walks for visitors to the hill.
“The first of the tours will be ready for August 2013, and will be available to download from the Collective website,” says Gray. “Another three will be released within our first year at the Observatory. All of the audio works will offer new ways of engaging with the landscape, as we map out new departures and possibilities within the premises.”
For a full list of artists, including details on how to take part in Collective’s live or silent auction, click here. Work can be viewed in person at Lyon & Turnbull prior to the auction on Thursday 14 March.
Collective is currently showing (until 24 March) solo exhibitions by Conor Kelly and Calvin Laing, part of the New Work Scotland Programme.
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