A NEW retail unit in Stirling is the first in the city to champion local arts and crafts providers.
A temporary pop up shop at 58 Murray Place, Stirling called MADE IN STIRLING will run until the end of September and will provide retail and display space for the best work by local artists, photographers, designers and artisans.
It will also provide information on ‘what’s on’, with daily listings of upcoming cultural and creative events across Stirling, promoting creative venues and activities across the Stirling area.
The pop up shop is the first project of the newly formed Stirling Creative Industries Forum (SCIF) and links in with the wider Start Up Street initiative, which is aimed at revitalising the city centre by bringing new and interesting uses to vacant commercial property.
SCIF is a branch of the Stirling Business Panel and is specifically focused on addressing the needs of people working in Stirling’s creative industries.
Garry Freckleton, chair of SCIF and joint director of 2010 Architecture, said: “We are really excited to launch the ‘pop-up’ shop and urge local creative businesses and artists to submit proposals to utilise the space over the summer.
“In addition to showcasing some of Stirling’s finest arts, crafts and design work; the shop will provide a wealth of information to tourists and residents on cultural activities in the Stirling area.
“Our thanks go to Stirling Council who has provided financial support to the project, Stirling Development Agency who has provided a temporary lease on the unit and Ogilvies and Stirling Electrical who have sponsored trades for the fit out of the shop.
“It has been a hugely positive experience witnessing what has been achieved in such a short period of time, with Stirling’s community really coming together.”
Stirling Council Portfolio Holder for Finance, Economy & Tourism, Councillor Neil Benny, said: “Stirling Council is looking at a range of ways to support city centre businesses, established and new.
“I am delighted we have played a role in driving this project and providing the opportunity for new creative businesses and people working self-employed in this sector to become more established.
“The pop-up shop is enabling people to test the market for their creative products, some for the first time, but is also providing a fantastic showcase of Stirling’s very good creative talent.
“Made in Stirling is trail blazing the way for future Start Up Street projects, that will aim to provide opportunities for new small businesses to bring their products to market and also support our wider objective regarding additional vibrancy and viability of the city centre.
“People should go take a look, they have some good stuff for sale.”
SCIF is currently seeking proposals from creative businesses and people in the Stirling area to utilise the space for retail and exhibition of creative goods (e.g. art, crafts, design work, print, photography, jewellery, etc.) until the end of September.
For more information and an application form, please contact sarah@icecreamarchitecture.com
To join SCIF, please visit www.stirlingbusinesspanel.org/creative-industries
Notes for editors
- People with an interest in creative industries can join the Stirling Creative Industries Forum (SCIF) at www.stirlingbusinesspanel.org/creative-industries . There’s also information on the webpage on how to engage with the Made in Stirling project.
- Made in Stirling is SCIF’s first project and is also linked in with Start Up Street Stirling, providing a pilot project to help develop a template for future community/commercial projects in vacant commercial premises.
- Made in Stirling is being managed by Icecream Architecture – sarah@icecreamarchitecture.com / des@icecreamarchitecture.com
- Stirling Council initiated the project and provided £5k funding, also helped to drive the project.
- Stirling Creative Industries Forum (SCIF) – established at the end of May 2012, SCIF is affiliated to the Stirling Business Panel and provides opportunities for local creatives and businesses involved in creative industries to network, collaborate and share ideas. Made in Stirling is SCIF’s first project with future projects and events planned, including a launch/networking event, a creative industries showcase event at a city centre location and more. The project proposal for Made in Stirling prepared by Stirling Council was agreed and shaped by SCIF and it has also voted on other details such as the name, branding, etc.
For further information contact Barry McDonald at Tartan Penguin Media on 07968 141 895 or contact@tartanpenguinmedia.com
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