SAMIZDAT

Newsletter Spring 2006

Drill Hall Revamp
Phase 2 of the transformation of The Out of the Blue Drill Hall in Dalmeny Street, Leith into a modern, fully-equipped multi-arts centre should complete in July. The work will create 12 additional studios/offices for creative businesses, exhibition, rehearsal, performance spaces as well as an arts café run as an employment training initiative. The new centre is the culmination of years of hard work, so congratulations to the team who made it all possible. An OOTB event is planned to celebrate this momentous occasion; watch this space for details. We are continuing to raise funds for Phase 3 which will create more desperately-needed studio space and potentially a sculpture garden. There is still time to play your part in this exciting development by clicking a brick at www.outoftheblue.org.uk and immortalising your name in the very fabric of the building.

Radical Book Fair
The revamped OOTB Drill Hall is already in big demand for events. Among dates confirmed is city bookshop Word Power’s 10th Edinburgh Radical Book Fair from October 11 – 15. Further details are at www.word-power.co.uk. Bookings for the café or performance space can be
made with Nicole Lambeng on

Creative Powerhouse
OOTB further stepped up its drive to supply affordable production space to Edinburgh’s artistic community in March after taking on the lease of an old Scottish Power building at No. 1 Portobello High Street. The new building will provide studios for up to 40 artists. There is also a much larger double height room which will be available for hire for one-off events, exhibitions, photo-shoots, set-building and the like. For all enquiries again email Nicole.

Cultural Quarter
As mentioned in Samizdats passim, OOTB is advising on cultural content to the controversial redevelopment of the old New Street site. The creation of a vibrant ‘cultural quarter’ has been a long-held aim at OOTB. Now OOTB’s consistent tactic of positive engagement with the various city planners and developers involved with the site over the last 10 years is finally bearing fruit. OOTB and architect Malcolm Fraser are now drawing up plans to create studios, workshops and galleries in the East Market Street arches. OOTB has also been tapped to programme a diverse calendar of public cultural events should the proposed new public square get the green light. OOTB’s cultural agenda should help to ensure the final result has something that everyone in Edinburgh can enjoy.

OOTB Graduates A Runway Success
Without these type of initiatives Edinburgh’s cultural life would be hit badly. For instance, OOTB graduates Sarah Cairncross and Felicity Faichney both have new shows over the next month. An exhibition of Sarah’s paintings is at The Village, 16 South Fort Street from May 29 for a month while Felicity’s theatrical fashion show Hatwalk returns on May 31 and June 1 at the Mansfield Traquair Centre. All money raised goes to help vulnerable children in Scotland so check out www.hatwalk.co.uk for full details.

Rustled
Samizdat’s Edinburgh readers may have already noticed the painted fibreglass cows appearing around the city as part of touring art project Cow Parade. In addition to co-ordinating the creation of seven other community cows by groups of young people from around Edinburgh, OOTB was behind the Turn over a New Leith cow originally sited in Dalmeny Street Park. Designed by artists Zoe Dudziak, Tessa MacGregor as well as youngsters from the Pilmeny Youth Project, the cow was the latest stage in OOTB’s Park Life community arts project to regenerate the park. However, as Samizdat went to press, it emerged that the cow had been ‘rustled’ only days after installation following a spate of thefts and vandalism to other cows. It is sad for everyone concerned especially as it would have made a fitting centrepiece to June 3’s Picnic in the Park. Organised by OOTB spin-off Friends of Dalmeny Street Park, it looks set to be a great day with planting, art workshops and a wishing tree, so bring along some food and a blanket from 12pm onwards.

Festival Fever
Festival fever mounts in July and August, as OOTB gears up for the Fringe. The building work means that The OOTB Drill Hall will only be used on an ad-hoc basis this year, but there is still plenty happening. However, OOTB sister organisation The Bongo Club’s jammed line-up of offbeat Festival talent is always ground zero of laidback bohemian cool. Highlights this year include the surreal, sexually ambivalent impressions of US comic Jimmy James. Check www.thebongoclub.co.uk for all the latest dates as well as live pictures of headline events with the site’s new webcast capability. Meanwhile, 2005 Fringe favourite the No Fit State circus returns to the The Out of the Blue Tramworks at Shrub Place on Leith Walk.

Your’re Hired
OOTB is also working with social justice agency Capital City Partnership to organise international community arts project Gallery 37 at the OOTB Drill Hall from July 24 to August 18. The employment initiative apprentices unemployed 16 to 25 year olds with artists to produce work in either documentary video, jewellery-making, millinery/bag-making or digital photography which will then be sold at a special shop. Last year’s pilot scheme was a big success with participants also learning work skills such as teamwork, presentation and negotiation.

Edinburgh Mela 2006
Looking further ahead, OOTB has again been invited to organise this year’s Edinburgh Mela. The popular inter-cultural festival will be held in Pilrig Park on September 2 and 3. 2005 was widely hailed as the best ever Mela with some 60,000 people enjoying hundreds of acts over the two days. 2006 looks set to be even better so keep your diary open that weekend. If you know of any culturally diverse artists or projects that might like to take part then please email Dana MacLeod on

OOTB Opportunities
In the longer term, OOTB and the Bongo are keen to hear from any individuals or organisations that would be interested in holding daytime cultural events in either the Bongo or OOTB Drill Hall arts cafes. Whether it is an exhibition, talk or presentation, regular discussion group or even possibly a performance of some kind, get in touch with Nicole with your ideas.

Last but stereotypically not least, OOTB is looking for staff and volunteers over the summer and beyond. As you can see, there is a lot happening, so if you are keen to get involved in any of the projects mentioned above then send OOTB coordinator Rob Hoon a CV outlining your skills and interests to

That’s it for Samizdat until the end of the summer so keep an eye on www.outoftheblue.org.uk for all the latest news. If you would like to unsubscribe from the mailing list then email and we need never speak of it again.