A new creative hub for Lochside is set to be launched next Saturday as an inclusive and welcoming space for the Dumfries community to enjoy a range of activities.
The Cabin on Dunlop Road is a transformed portable building which has been in the making since 2020 in collaboration with Dumfries’ The Stove, through the What We Do Now network.
The Dumfriesshire 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.
It will be officially launched on Saturday, October 26, between noon and 2pm with the public welcome to come along.
Describing it as “a place to gather and participate in a range of activities” from creative workshops, skills development and community consultations, managing director of LIFT D&G, Angela Gilmour said: “We’re thrilled to welcome the public to The Cabin. I can’t wait to see the positive impact this creative space will have on our community.”
In addition to LIFT’s programme of activities, local artists Alice Francis and Rosie Giblin will be launching a year-long initiative called ArtLab, funded by Creative Scotland, at The Cabin.
This programme will build on the community-led creative work established in recent years through the What We DoNow network.
Graham Rooney of The Stove is delighted with how The Cabin has turned out and acknowledged the collective effort involved in reaching the launch.
He said: “It’s been a long but rewarding journey to bring The Cabin to life. We couldn’t have achieved this without the invaluable support of Wheatley Homes South, the council, Scottish Water, SP Energy Networks, Octopus Energy, Jackie Connelly, and of course, the wonderful support from the residents of Lochside.”