Doors Open Day

Saturday 28th September 2024
Hourly tours from 11am until 1pm, free entry

Since 2004 Out of the Blue’s headquarters has been the Out of the Blue Drill Hall, a building of considerable historical and cultural significance to the Leith community.

The Drill Hall was built in 1901 for the Royal Scots Regiment, designed by the renowned architect Sir Rowand Anderson, who also designed the National Portrait Gallery on Queen Street and the McEwan Hall at Edinburgh University. Following Out of the Blue’s 2015 ‘Gretna 100’ project, which marked the centenary of the Gretna rail tragedy and its impact on the Leith community, the Out of the Blue Drill Hall was regraded from ‘B’ to ‘A’ listed. You can find out more about the ‘Gretna 100’ project here.

Careful, sustainable restoration and regeneration have transformed this former military building into participatory and inclusive art and cultural centre, with multiple artists’ studios, rehearsal, workshop and classes, performance, and exhibition spaces. The Drill Hall also has a well-reviewed cafe which is ‘the beating heart’ of the building and Leith.

Guided Tours 

The Out of the Blue team will be running free guided tours on the hour from 11am until 1pm. There will be sign-up sheets available at the main entrance to the venue from 10am. Each tour will last around 30 minutes and will include a guided tour of the building as well visits to some of our artists in their studios.

  • Tour 1: 11am
  • Tour 2: 12noon
  • Tour 3: 1pm

Please arrive at least 10 mins before the start of the tour you’d like to go on to enter your details in the sign-up sheets.

Drill Hall studio artists taking part in the Doors Open Day are:

The monthly Flea Market will also be taking place in the Main Hall and the Drill Hall Cafe will be open serving teas, coffees and delicious hot and cold snacks.

See the full programme for the Edinburgh and East Lothian Doors Open Days here. 

Part of our 30th anniversary celebration.

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