A draft version of the Architectural Feasibility has been recently made available.
Attached are some concept images of what could be a spectacular new piece of Dunfermlines culture and history.
Once the final version of this feasibility study is ready it will be available to read online.
Many thanks to Simon Laird Associates for making this available.
Published: Thursday, 31st December, 2009 7:05am
Read the original Dunfermline Press Article Here
COUNCILLORS, civic leaders and members of the public are being invited to a meeting which could hold the key to proposals to turn Dunfermline’s fire station into a contemporary arts centre.
The fire station will be vacated when the new one at Pitreavie opens in March and a group of volunteers has been pressing for the Carnegie Drive building to be converted into studios and an exhibition centre.
Now, Dunfermline Arts and Media (DAM) have organised a public meeting to be held on 28th January, when they hope to get the area’s movers and shakers firmly behind their proposals for what has been provisionally called the Fife Station.
It’s hoped the meeting will lead to the formation of a committee which will work to turn the idea into reality.
“Our idea is really building up momentum but we hope the meeting will take it on a stage further,” said DAM co-founder Ian Moir, a Dunfermline artist and film-maker.
DAM has already commissioned a £6500 feasibility study into the idea of creating a contemporary arts centre in Dunfermline.
It looked at various likely venues but concluded that converting the fire station, a 1930s art deco building, would be the best option.
It’s felt that further studies will be required, such as one to test the project’s economic impact and one to consider its architectural feasibility.
Fife Council, which owns the building, is represented on a working group formed to progress the proposals.
Andrew Walker, of the council’s economic regeneration and partnerships team, is joined on the group by volunteers: architect Andrew McRae, who is from Dunfermline; John Mark di Ciacca, a North Queensferry resident who formerly headed Edinburgh Council’s development arm; Margaret Matthew, the consultant who carried out DAM’s feasibility study; and Mr Moir.
The group will report on their progress at the 28th January meeting – to be held in the City Hotel at 7pm – and will field questions from members of the public.
DAM’s feasibility study argues that the costs of running an arts centre could be sustainable and points to similar centres which are made financially viable through generating various income streams.
In Dunfermline’s case, studios and exhibition space could be rented, cultural events staged and sponsorship sought, while a cafe and shop would also bring in cash.
During her research for DAM’s feasibility study, Margaret Matthew consulted with around 150 individuals and organisations, many of whom are being invited to the January meeting.
It’s hoped representatives of Fife Council, Dunfermline Delivers, Carnegie College, Creativefife and others will put their weight behind the proposal at the meeting and support the creation of a steering group, provisionally called the Fire Station Forum.
Among the forum’s first tasks will be to work up a business plan which will set out a financial model for the project and outline exactly how the fire station can be converted and the various uses to which it can be put.
DAM’s study has already concluded that there is a clear demand for artists’ studios and a contemporary visual arts gallery in the area.
It also showed that there is support for a “cultural hub” in Dunfermline, complete with cafe and retail facilities, and concluded that the fire station would meet all these needs.
“This is a project waiting to happen,” said Mr Moir, “and I feel confident that the public meeting and the creation of a forum will give further credibility to our vision.
“A lot of work has been done to get us this far but we have to do much more if this is to be taken seriously.
“Only by doing this in a very professional way will we make this happen in a way that is sustainable in the long term and that meets the aspirations of Dunfermline’s artistic community.”
Published: Thursday, 17th September, 2009 8:15am
Dunfermline Press Article by Gary Fitzpatrick
Read the original article here
PLANS to transform Dunfermline Fire Station into an art gallery have been given an enthusiastic initial reaction.
Last week’s Press broke the story exclusively that voluntary body Dunfemline Arts and Media (DAM) had commissioned a viability report into converting the station into an arts centre.
There have been concerns that when the fire service moves to a new station in Pitreavie Business Park next year it will be turned into another super-pub or nightclub.
Councillor Gerry McMullan, chair of Fife Museums Forum and on the board of Fife Art and Theatres Trust, said, “I think the group behind this – DAM – is excellent from what I’ve seen of it and I believe that this would be a superb use of the building.
“To have an art gallery based in this striking art deco building in the centre of the town would be great for Dunfermline.
“With the new sports facilties nearby it would create a good spread of assets and prevent visitors simply congregating down at the Abbey or Abbot House.
“We certainly need a museum to display Dunfermline’s collection and similarly we need an art gallery.
“At the time of the Carnegie Arts Festival there was an idea to try to get the Andy Warhol painting of Carnegie over here.
“I simply asked where we would display it. There is no suitable place for security and other considerations so it was pie in the sky.
“I think the size of the fire station building would allow space for classes to be held as well.
“It is certainly a more appealing prospect than for it to be turned into another superpub.
“It could be that somebody could suggest to Tesco that it would be good public relations for them when they’re planning to build a supermarket next door to put some money towards a community facility such as an art gallery at the fire station.”
Jean Smith, secretary of Dunfermline Art Club, said, “We would welcome an art gallery as we have nothing at the moment and it would be good for the town.
“However, we’re not sure how beneficial it would be for the amateurs as the talk so far seems to be about professional and semi-professional artists.
“We have a problem finding suitable venues in the town. We recently had an exhibition in the Kingsgate and we get good support from the public.
“It’s not all about selling your work but obviously it gives our members a boost if they do sell a painting.”
With a £6500 grant from the Big Lottery Fund, DAM has commissioned a study into the creation of an arts centre somewhere in Dunfermline and it is understood the fire station is seen as the favoured option.
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