The community led cultural organisation WHALE Arts in Wester Hailes has completed the Community Asset Transfer for the land on which the arts centre was constructed in 2021.
This will allow them to move on from leasing the land from the council and it includes WHALE’s community garden and a small adjoining woodland area all of which is now in community ownership. The purchase was assisted with a £125,000 grant from the Scottish Land Acquisition Fund.
Interim WHALE Arts Agency CEO Kate Griffin said: “We’re thrilled to have completed the Community Asset Transfer process and are very grateful for our partners’ support to make it happen. Working together the WHALE Arts team, our Members, volunteers and artists look forward to seeing our award winning projects developing and thriving in our space at the creative heart of our community.”
Earlier on Wednesday there was a celebration with cake and a ribbon cutting, marking the new chapter of the community owned creative centre.
Established by local people in 1992, WHALE Arts provides a wide range of creative opportunities, classes and workshops for the people of Wester Hailes, as well as hosting several other community-facing organisations and services, including: Sistema Scotland Big Noise Wester Hailes, Starcatchers – Scotland’s Arts and Early Years organisation and SCORE Scotland.
29 May 2024 WHALE Arts celebrating the completion of the Community Asset Transfer of the land on which the centre is built PHOTO Alan Simpson L to R on group photo Alan McNaughton WHALE board Kevin Sturgeon solicitor, Gillespie Macandrew, Emily Stevenson Board Leah Black WHALE Akiko Kobiashi architect Eunice Main Board Kate Griffin WHALE Arts Interim CEO 29 May 2024
WHALE Arts celebrating the completion of the Community Asset Transfer of the land on which the centre is built
PHOTO Alan Simpson Kate Griffin WHALE Arts Interim CEO and Leah Black CEO (on secondment to EVOC)29 May 2024
WHALE Arts celebrating the completion of the Community Asset Transfer of the land on which the centre is built. Pic shows Kate Griffin Interim CEO of WHALE Arts and Cllr Stephen Jenkinson
PHOTO Alan Simpson
29 May 2024
WHALE Arts celebrating the completion of the Community Asset Transfer of the land on which the centre is built
PHOTO Alan Simpson 29 May 2024 WHALE Arts celebrating the completion of the Community Asset Transfer of the land on which the centre is built PHOTO Alan Simpson L to R on group photo Alan McNaughton WHALE board Kevin Sturgeon solicitor, Gillespie Macandrew, Emily Stevenson Board Leah Black WHALE Akiko Kobiashi architect Eunice Main Board Kate Griffin WHALE Arts Interim CEO 29 May 2024 WHALE Arts celebrating the completion of the Community Asset Transfer of the land on which the centre is built PHOTO Alan Simpson L to R on group photo Alan McNaughton WHALE board Kevin Sturgeon solicitor, Gillespie Macandrew, Emily Stevenson Board Leah Black WHALE Akiko Kobiashi architect Eunice Main Board Kate Griffin WHALE Arts Interim CEO 29 May 2024
WHALE Arts celebrating the completion of the Community Asset Transfer of the land on which the centre is built
PHOTO Alan Simpson 29 May 2024 WHALE Arts celebrating the completion of the Community Asset Transfer of the land on which the centre is built PHOTO Alan Simpson Pic shows Kate Griffin WHALE Arts Interim CEO and Michael Bowdidge, Creative Development Lead, WHALE Arts29 May 2024
WHALE Arts celebrating the completion of the Community Asset Transfer of the land on which the centre is built
PHOTO Alan Simpson 29 May 2024
WHALE Arts celebrating the completion of the Community Asset Transfer of the land on which the centre is built
PHOTO Alan Simpson 29 May 2024
WHALE Arts celebrating the completion of the Community Asset Transfer of the land on which the centre is built
PHOTO Alan Simpson 29 May 2024
WHALE Arts celebrating the completion of the Community Asset Transfer of the land on which the centre is built
PHOTO Alan Simpson
