Date: Mar 5, 2010
Subject: Support for art centre plan

THE development of a contemporary arts centre in Dunfermline could have a “huge” impact on the Fife town’s economy, according to the director of Dundee Contemporary Arts (DCA).

Volunteer group Dunfermline Arts and Media (DAM) believes the town’s fire fire station, to be vacated early next year when a new station is opened at Pitreavie Business Park, would be an ideal home for a gallery and studios.

And if DAM’s dream came true it would be hugely beneficial to Dunfermline and West Fife, according to the boss of one of the country’s biggest art centres.

Dundee Contemporary Arts was created in 1999 and has developed as a world-class facility for contemporary arts and culture.

Three years after it opened a major study concluded that DCA, developed in a former garage and car showroom in the city centre, had brought “significant community and artistic benefits” to Dundee and Tayside.

And its director, Clive Gillman, said this week that he saw no reason why a contemporary arts centre in Dunfermline would not be similarly succesfsul.

Conducted by economist Steve Westbrook, the DCA study found that the Dundee centre had resulted in the creation of 258 jobs and generated more than £4 million for the region’s economy.
Now, it’s reckoned that DCA generates around £2.5 milllion for the local economy.

The study recognised that DCA had become a “high-profile” role model for the economic benefits that investment in the arts could bring to communities.

Mr Gillman said, “I wish this venture well. We at the DCA are all about supporting a sense of cultural ambition in the city and I think there’s a place for that attitude in all our towns and cities.”
Now, Dunfermline Arts and Media are looking to their new-found friends in the Dundee for inspiration as they aim to progress proposals to convert the Art Deco fire station into an arts centre.

DAM already have the support of Dunfermline and West Fife MP Willie Rennie and welcome the encouragement of bosses at the Dundee centre.

“We know that creating a contemporary arts centre can bring huge benefits to an area both culturally and economically but it’s good to have that confirmed by the experience of the Dundee centre,” said DAQM co-founder Ian Moir.

“I’m grateful for their kind words and just hope that we can persuade others that setting up an arts centre in the fire station would be fantastic for this area.”

Mr Moir raised £6500 from the Big Lottery Fund for a study into the feasibility of setting up an arts centre in Dunfermline. It’s understood that the study, which will be completed soon, will conclude that the fire station would be the ideal building for such a centre. It has a big garage space, which would be an ideal exhibition venue, and a host of rooms which could be used as studios.

MP Willie Rennie also sees another big plus. He’s not keen on the prospect of the fire station being taken over for use as a nightclub or pub.

“It’s not what that part of Dunfermline needs,” he said, “while a centre for the arts would be brilliant there.”

The Dundee centre attracts around 300,000 visitors a year and has hosted works by Andy Warhol, However, centre manager Susan Coghlan stressed that one of its key roles was providing support for local artists ¬- something DAM would see as a priority in Dunfermline.

“The whole artistic community in this area has benefited,” she said, “and local artists are able to display work in the galleries.

“But it’s not just the arts that have benefited. DCA is in what’s been designated Dundee’s cultural quarter, and has helped to attract other, smaller galleries and restaurants and the like to the area.”