It’s LIFT-off for new hub in Dumfriesshire

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A new creative hub for the north west Dumfries community has been officially with a fun-filled get-together.The Art Cabin on Dunlop Road, Lochside, is a transformed portable building, in collaboration with LIFT D&G and Dumfries’ The Stove, and will be the heart of creativity in DG2.It will host a revolving programme of creative workshops for all ages with professional artists, makers and creatives – including the NANA gardening project – as well as skills development and community consultations.Hailed as “an inclusive and welcoming space for the community to enjoy a range of activities”, managing director of LIFT D&G, Angela Gilmour, said: “I can’t wait to see the positive impact this creative space will have on our community.

We have a lot planned.”In addition to LIFT’s programme of activities at the opening, local artists Alice Francis and Rosie Giblin launched a year-long initiative called ArtLab, funded by Creative Scotland, at The Cabin.The project has received significant local and national support including from Wheatley Homes South who donated the portable building, and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, which aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK.Speaking of the successful community launch, Angie said: “We were joined by the community making art, badges, bicycle powered smoothies, bicycle powered music, pizza making, marshmallow toasting, community planting our winter veg and herbs as part of our NANA project, stone designs and dancing.“A huge thank you to everyone that came and a special thank you to Alice Francis who has worked her socks off pulling all this together – as well our artists, gardener and community volunteers.