Date: Mar 5, 2010
Subject: Art centre team formed

A NEW group has been formed to spearhead proposals to create a community creative arts centre in Dunfermline.

The plan was initiated by voluntary body Dunfermline Arts and Media, whose co-founder, Ian Moir, now chairs the new body.

Called Projects Arts Dunfermline (PAD), the new team is effectively an interim steering committee which will be pushing for the conversion of Dunfermline’s soon-to-be-vacated fire station into an arts centre, complete with studios, an exhibition space and cafe.

PAD was formed at a well-attended meeting in Carnegie College on Thursday (11th February) and will now set about building up what it intends to be a robust business plan for an arts centre. It will also look at how the project could be funded.

A feasibility study has looked at various buildings which could potentially accommodate an arts centre but has concluded that the fire station, which Fife Council is poised to put on the market, is by far the best option. Now, work is under way on an architectural study which will look at how the fire station could be converted.

“A great deal has been done to show there’s a real need and desire for an arts centre in Dunfermline,” said Mr Moir. “Now, the real work starts … turning a dream that’s shared by a growing number of people into a reality.”

He added, “We keep hearing of various proposals for the fire station, such as its conversion into an hotel. However, we believe that the people of Dunfermline will not forgive this generation if we let this fantastic opportunity to slip from our grasp.

“The fire station is an iconic building and to allow it become a hotel or pub while there is massive support for a proposal which would give Dunfermline a place on the cultural map would be shameful.”

Mr Moir said the new organisation was made up of enthusistic and talented people with the experience and skills needed to push through what he described as “an ambitious yet eminently do-able plan”.

 But he stressed that key to its success would be the continued support of not only artists and other creative people in Dunfermline but the community at large.

“We have a vision to create a community of the arts for the community as a whole,” he said.

Dunfermline Fire Station, a listed Art Deco building in Carnegie Drive, will be vacated next month when the new one built at Pitreavie Business Park is opened.