Stirling, have revealed major developments for 2019, meaning students will be able to enjoy a host of facilities ranging from pottery classes to cookery in Made In Stirling, an arts hub on Kings Street.
The hub has been set up by local charity, Creative Stirling, coordinated by Joe Hall in collaboration with Stirling Council, Go Forth and other contributors, and aims to share and celebrate creativity in its many forms while tying together local culture, business and art.
At the time being, the hub’s main feature is the Made in Stirling shop, ran by Paul Jenkins and Samantha Green, which sells locally crafted art, jewellery and furniture. Made in Stirling was originally started in 2012 as an ‘outlet for creatives, designers and local crafts people to showcase and retail their products on the high street’, but now they are working with Creative Stirling to help bring the ‘melting-pot’ arts hub to life.
The hub has already provided a space for over 100 local artists to sell their work, and they have been showcasing work in the large gallery space at the back of the shop, where visitors can browse at their leisure. After the success of the Made in Stirling shop and gallery, they have announced plans to expand into the upper and lower floors.
On the second floor, they have plans to open an educational kitchen, café area, and studio pod spaces that artists can rent and work from, and the public can watch the artists at work. The educational kitchen will be used to host baking and cookery classes, and provide an opportunity to pass on knowledge, and potentially utilise newly learnt skills in the café. Stirling Radio will also be calling the hub their new home.
They’re even exploring the potential to create a roof top garden to grow vegetables and herbs to use in the kitchen. Under the shop, they have been able to accommodate a new Men’s Shed, ran by Tipp Maher. The Men’s Shed is a friendly space where mature men can share and learn practical skills in making and mending. The Men’s Shed is a UK wide initiative that helps combat loneliness among older men, but is open to anyone who would like to learn and meet new people. The Hub is all about sharing, learning, and giving back, so it’s hoped that some of the ‘shedders’ will be able to help construct parts of the upper floors with their newly gained skills.
Coming up in the new year, they also their first ever resident artist moving in. David Galletly is an illustrator and graphic designer originally from Stirling who will be working from the hub and showcasing his whimsical caricatured portraits and cityscapes as of the 24th of January.
The new hub is all about utilising the space they’ve got and making somewhere where people can come to spend time, which they’re hoping will make it more successful than the smaller locations Made in Stirling has settled in before. Since leaving their unit in the Thistles centre, they have seen a 30% increase in profits in the new hub.
The new hub at 44 King Street is all about supporting local emerging artists, harnessing creativity and bringing the community together all under one roof. The grand opening of the full arts hub for the public will be the 20th February. Come along for a browse, a chat and maybe even get involved in one of their many arts workshops.
The Hub is always looking for new ideas and artists. To get involved pop in to the shop or visit @madeinstirlingstore on Instagram to see more.
4th year journalism student at Stirling University
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