Since 1994, Out of the Blue Arts and Education Trust has developed from a wee gallery space in Edinburgh to six buildings, including the A-listed Out of the Blue Drill Hall in Leith and the iconic Bongo Club in the city centre. Over its 30 years existence, over two million people have come through its doors where creative projects and social initiatives have benefitted many individuals, organisations and communities.
Each Out of the Blue building has a creative purpose in its own right, but collectively they drive the growth of the Creative Industries in Edinburgh and Scotland by providing opportunities for employment, education and enterprise.
As a local organisation that sprung up from ‘out of the blue,’ hence its name, it has made a significant impact on Edinburgh and wider communities, as well as contributing to Scotland’s Creative Industry infrastructure.
Since its birth in 1994, when it transformed a shop space in the Auld Toun, it has moved to New Street after which the Bongo Club, that currently operates primarily as a nightclub, was created and has played host to rising stars such as Self Esteem and Kae Tempest.
Cocking a snoot at the Fringe’s Perrier Award, the organisation was behind the ‘Tap Water Awards’ in 2000 and 3 years later purchased and refurbished the now A listed Drill Hall in Leith. Over the years, Out of the Blue has provided studio space for a wide range of artists and organisations as well as initiating community based initiatives involving young people in a creative project to transform the local park with the outcome training and employment opportunities at the Out of the Blue Drill Café. Add to this the creation in 2015 of Out of the Blueprint as a risograph print studio, a low-cost, eco-friendly print process, using only vegetable inks and 100% recycled paper, with a unique aesthetic. In 2017 Abbeymount Studios became a hub for craft and design and a centre of imagination and enterprise for 50 artists and hundreds of participants.
Out of the Blue Chief Executive Rob Hoon said “Out of the Blue is unique and resists classification. Our buildings are not simply artists’ studios, or ‘creative hubs.’ Our spaces reflect a model that has developed and been sustained over 30 years, hosting a hybrid of arts, participatory education, enterprise, creativity, and community development. There is cross-fertilisation between these areas which support individuals and collective initiatives. This in turn has economic, health and educational benefits for individuals and the local community.”
Celebrations of 30 years of creative ventures are planned for Thursday 30th May that will comprise live physical and music performances along with visual art from the organisation’s history as well as from their current artist in residence, Matilda Bull.
Throughout the rest of their ‘pearl’ year, 30 showcase events will illustrate the history of Out of the Blue’s many collaborative partnerships.
Irene Brown
Radio Summerhall Arts 