Creative Scotland, Scotland’s new development body for arts, screen and creative industries, has confirmed that it will relocate its Edinburgh office to Waverley Gate early in the new year, providing a modern and effective working space from which to support the creative sector.
The new premises will include a public showcase at the heart of the capital city for the work of Scotland’s artists and creative practitioners. A flexible exhibition and events space, augmented by a small screening room, will feature a diverse programme of the work Creative Scotland supports. The office space will also allow Creative Scotland to offer ‘touch down’ facilities and meeting room access for visiting creative professionals.
Creative Scotland Chief Executive, Andrew Dixon explains: ‘The move to Waverley Gate is an exciting step forward for Creative Scotland which will allow us to develop a creative hub in central Edinburgh and work more effectively to support Scotland’s vibrant creative sector.
‘Our current Edinburgh office at Manor Place is made up of 50 rooms over five floors, its listed building status restricts our ability to develop the sort of facilities we want to provide for creative practitioners, artists and staff. The new open plan workspace has a mixture of permanent and flexible working areas for staff, as well as workspaces for visiting creative professionals.
‘The move is being managed within Creative Scotland’s existing budget and will have absolutely no effect on our investment in the arts, screen and creative industries. We have secured exceptional value for money over the period of the lease.’
The move will see Edinburgh-based staff move out of their current town house accommodation into the modern, purpose-designed office space located at the east end of Princes Street which will be efficient, accessible and better suited to the modern working practices of the new organisation.
Very competitive terms for Waverley Gate were negotiated over the 15-year lease, including an initial rent-free period. Actual relocation costs have been kept to a minimum.
Mike Irvine, Partner, Montagu Evans added: ‘Waverleygate currently offers the best ‘value for money’ of any office building in Edinburgh city centre. With highly flexible floor plates it has been possible to attract a wide range of occupiers and with the building now starting to fill up, it is our intention to continue with this strategy in order to secure occupiers for the remaining c130,000 sq ft of offices. The quality of the specification, the property’s green credentials and its strategic location in the city centre have also been key drivers in recent successes.’
Creative Scotland will occupy part of the first floor of the Waverley Gate complex, a modern office conversion of the iconic General Post Office building at the east end of Edinburgh’s Princes Street. The location is close to the city’s main rail and bus terminals and has easy access to and from Edinburgh’s airport. Staff will be relocated to the new office in January.
The move is a significant step in establishing the new body, allowing Creative Scotland to better support Scotland’s creative sector.
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