Out of the Blue gives due notice of milestone anniversary programme
The Drill Hall now provides a base for more than 100 artists
An Edinburgh arts organisation that seemingly appeared from nowhere – providing the inspiration for its now familiar name – will celebrate its 30th anniversary on Thursday.
Out of the Blue Arts and Education Trust will thank those who have contributed to its success with a sample performance of music and visual art, representative of the past three decades.
Beginning life as a small gallery space, Out of the Blue now enlivens six buildings in the Capital, including the A-listed Out of the Blue Drill Hall in Leith – where the event will take place – and the iconic Bongo Club in the city centre.
Since 1994, more than two million people have gone through its doors to work, create, exhibit, perform, eat, drink, dance, teach and learn, while thousands more have benefited from its creative projects and social initiatives.
Collectively, these ventures are acknowledged to be making a significant contribution both to people's quality of life and to the provision of opportunities in the creative industries for emerging and established artists.
The Drill Hall now provides a base for more than 100 artists; a market venue for local traders; a community cafe, with its own training project for young people; and an arts venue for local, national and international artists to create, collaborate, teach and perform.
As a performance venue with practice and workshop facilities, the Bongo Club has a tradition for welcoming local and international talent, presenting live music, theatre, film and video art, dance and comedy.
Out of the Blue Chief Executive Rob Hoon said: “Out of the Blue is unique and resists classification. Our buildings are not simply artists’ studios, or ‘creative hubs’.
"Our spaces reflect a model that has developed and been sustained over 30 years, hosting a hybrid of arts, participatory education, enterprise, creativity, and community development. There is cross-fertilisation between these areas which support individuals and collective initiatives. This in turn has economic, health and educational benefits for individuals and the local community.”
Ally Hill, managing director of The Bongo Club said: “The Bongo Club has been pushing the boundaries of the Edinburgh scene since 1996. Through the loyal support of the community and the council, it has now overcome threats to its existence on three occasions and its third incarnation occupies the cavernous, basement spaces below the Central Library, on Cowgate, since 2013.”
The line-up of anniversary events continues with a free open weekend and meet the makers event at Out of the Blue Abbeymount Studios on June 1 and 2 from noon until 5pm.