Famous Grouse puts up half-million to help build new ‘Ideas Centre’

Whisky giant Famous Grouse has struck a £500,000 deal to help set up a centre for creative talent in Perth.

Perth and Kinross Council is transforming the derelict St John’s Primary School on Stormont Street into a £3.5 million “Creative Exchange”.

It is expected to generate work for about 20 people.

Now, Edrington – which owns the Famous Grouse brand – is investing £500,000 in the project over 10 years.

It is hoped that by by attracting and retaining new talent, the centre will address one of the main challenges of the Perth 2021 City of Culture bid by stopping a “brain drain” in the region’s creative sector.

It is scheduled to open next year and will become a home to artists and creative industries, offering up affordable studio and office space.

Project manager Finlay Kerr said the Famous Grouse Ideas Centre, as it will be known, will act as a home for startups and growing firms.

“Thanks to funding from the Famous Grouse, the Ideas Centre will be up and running this year, from temporary accommodation,” he said.

“They came to us with this idea and they were really passionate about it.

“Our long-term aim is to keep the graduates from Perth College in the area but it would be great to be able to attract young people from Dundee and other areas too.”