£12 million cultural hub opens its doors to public

‘Amazing’ project impresses people in their hundreds

Hundreds of visitors flocked to the heart of Dunfermline as the town’s new multimillion-pound Carnegie Library and Galleries opened to the public.

Following a decade of planning, the first visitors were finally allowed inside the state-of-the-art complex, which is expected to form the town’s new cultural hub.

Promising to showcase the best of Dunfermline’s past, present and future, the building certainly wowed the large crowds that descended on the town centre for the opening day’s festivities.

First through the door was 62-yearold Rosemary Summerson, who said that the project could transform perceptions of the town.

“I think it is absolutely amazing,” she said. “I would not have thought that this could have been possible from the old building.

“It felt a great privilege to be the first one to come inside.

“Having been the former capital and with the abbey here, Dunfermline needs to celebrate its history a lot more.”

Constructed at a cost of £12 million, the new Galleries has seen the town’s existing library married with an empty bank to create a new exhibition space, cafe, reading room and library.

And the new facility has been impressing architecture enthusiasts, having been named Building of the Year at the Edinburgh Architectural Association’s annual awards.

Among the initial attractions are features on Dunfermline’s past, from its royal roots, to its sporting and entertainment stars, the story of its wartime efforts, its industrial past and stories of its people.

Heather Stuart, chief executive of Fife Cultural Trust, said: “This building and all that will happen within it from here on will play a key role in the regeneration of Dunfermline through culture and heritage.

“This is a community project in spirit and a great deal of blood, sweat and tears from so many people have gone into bringing it to life.”

Having missed out on preview tours, I was suitably impressed when I saw the completed building in all its splendour this week.

Cloaked in sunshine and with dozens of people coming and going, this was nothing short of a textbook launch for what will surely become one of Fife’s premier visitor attractions.

There can be no doubting that £12.4 million is a lot of money in these austere times, but it is easy to see where that cash has been spent.

The fixtures and finishings are classy, while the numerous interactive displays are the embodiment of the science fiction films of yesteryear.

This is history brought to life, and the Galleries clearly has the capability to attract top touring exhibitions.

If the Galleries were situated in Edinburgh or Glasgow you would never hear the end of how good it is.

The Carnegie Library and Galleries is a facility that Fife can be rightly proud of.

Rosemary Summerson was the first visitor to the new Galleries.

Pictures: George McLuskie.