End of an Era as Time Called on Out of the Blue New Street Studios

New Horizons Beckon as Out of the Blue Drill Hall Refurbishment Paves Way for June Opening

Out of the Blue New Street studios closed its doors for the last time on December 21. The old bus depot in Edinburgh 's Old Town was the catalyst for thousands of cutting-edge cultural collaborations since it was first leased by Out of the Blue over ten years ago. It was also the birthplace for Edinburgh's most creative left-field venue, The Bongo Club.

The building is now scheduled for demolition to make way for the Caltongate development. The move leaves more than 50 artists without workplaces at a single stroke. However, Out of the Blue is continuing to lobby for a working cultural quarter to be included in future plans for the site.

Nichola Waygood, a key Out of the Blue staff member of many years standing as well as a New Street -based painter comments, "This is very sad for the people directly affected and indeed the whole of the city. Affordable studio space underpins year round, grassroots artistic activity in Edinburgh and helps to drive tourism. Without it, Scotland 's capital will lose out both culturally and financially."

The news comes as Phase 2 of the building refurbishment is set to begin at Out of the Blue's nerve centre in Leith . The Out of the Blue Drill Hall is due to open to the public in June this year and will provide some 30 new studio spaces, a café, exhibition & performance space as well as music studios and possibly a projection room. The Out of the Blue Drill Hall is already home to around 50 artists and creative businesses.

Out of the Blue co-ordinator Rob Hoon says, "The Out of the Blue Drill Hall will be a vital resource for Edinburgh . But the demand for studio space in the city is far outstripping supply. There is an immediate need to replace space lost at New Street and I would urge anyone with a potentially suitable building to get in touch."