Doors Open Day
Saturday 23rd September 2023
Hourly tours from 11am until the last tour at 2pm, 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 artists’ studios, rehearsal and performance areas, exhibition spaces and a well-reviewed café.
Drill Hall Tours
On Saturday 23rd September hourly tours of the Out of the Blue Drill Hall will be running from 11am, until the last tour at 2pm. Please arrive at least 15 minutes before your preferred tour slot to sign up for a place. There will be sign-up sheets available at the venue from 10am. Each tour will last around 30 minutes and there will be time afterwards to visit some of our studios, our A Closer Look exhibition and enjoy a refreshment at the Drill Hall Cafe.
A Closer Look
In addition to the tours, our current exhibition A Closer Look will be open in the Main Hall from 10am – 5pm.
See the full programme for the Edinburgh and East Lothian Doors Open Days here.
Tags: Doors Open Day, Guided Tour
