The Forest Cafe, Edinburgh’s independent arts and community centre, has been told it must leave its current premises at 3 Bristo Place by 31 August, in a letter received this week from the Trustees of Edinburgh University Settlement (EUS). But the campaign to Save the Forest has vowed to continue its fight to stay at the current location in the old town.
The Forest has been running a high-profile campaign to raise funds to stay in the building since October 2010, when EUS, who owns the Forest’s premises at 3 Bristo Place, was declared bankrupt and forced into administration. As of today, over 1,200 people have pledged their support in the Save the Forest e-petition, and the Forest has raised over £20,000 towards the purchase of the building or future rent.
Harry Giles, Fundraising Officer for the Save the Forest Campaign,
said:-
“The building has not yet been sold, and we will have to prove that we are in a solid position to buy our current home. We know that whatever comes, we’ll keep the Forest alive. The Forest is important to the arts community in Edinburgh and Scotland, and it has had an extraordinary impact worldwide too, supporting artists, musicians and performers through their career. It means a great deal to the many volunteers who have contributed to it, and to the many artists and performers who got their start here. Our work has a vital and unique place in Edinburgh, and that needs to continue.”
Debbie Pearson, co-director of the award-winning Forest Fringe, recently lent her support to the campaign, saying:
“The Forest Cafe is one of those rare organisations left whose purpose is not personal or financial gain, but benefiting a community and its relationship to the arts. Even when the purse strings are tightest and the possibility for financial gain is greatest, the Forest Cafe prioritises its principles of being a free arts space for artists and the community.”
The Forest will still be organising and hosting art, music and theatre events though the festival season in Edinburgh – and from Friday 25 March the Forest with Ten Tracks will be presenting “Roofraiser”, with over a month of live music to Save the Forest. Shows will be hosted at The Forest and other venues throughout Edinburgh on Wednesday through Sunday evenings through 1 May. A schedule and further details can be found on The Forest web site at
