Every time Hidden Door Festival takes place, it moves to a new location – and the location for next year is just about the biggest yet – on Turnhouse Road.
In November Hidden Door will hold a venue launch party at The Paper Factory in Maybury Quarter, on a 15.5 acre site formerly occupied by Saica, a company which manufactured paper and cardboard. And then in spring 2025 the full blown Hidden Door Festival will take over the large site.
The festival which is staffed by volunteers offers a platform for new and emerging artists musicians and makers. In the past the festival has been held in Leith Theatre, Market Street Arches, The old Royal High School on Regent Road and in the former Scottish Widows building next to the Royal Commonwealth Pool. It is common that after a Hidden Door event the spotlight is shone on the building as a development prospect, and the festivals are all one-off opportunities to see inside buildings which may be demolished or otherwise be off limits.
The preview event with live music, visual art and performances will take place on 22 and 23 November when Hidden Door will show off the spaces which they plan to transform by spring. Details will be announced next month, but as is usual access on the Saturday during the day will be free.
There are warehouses, factory floors and offices. The location is next to the Edinburgh Gateway tram and rail station and so has excellent transport links.
Hazel Johnson, Festival Director of Hidden Door, said: “Every new venue we take on presents unique opportunities and challenges, and this vast space is no different. We can’t wait to start work transforming the towering buildings, acres of warehouses and – in true Hidden Door style – all the nooks and crannies into one of our most ambitious arts venues yet.
“In addition to the festival, The Paper Factory will provide a base for Hidden Door to work with artists on site specific performance and art, commission new work and take huge steps towards our sustainability goals with workshops, studios and more.
“Our Venue Launch Party in November will provide a sneak peek into what we have in store – we look forward to welcoming you to the Paper Factory!”
The property has been vacant since Saica moved to Livingston where they now have a purpose built factory. Summix Capital is a company of regeneration specialists which is developing proposals for the site which lies in a key position near the Crosswind Development and also other housing on Maybury Road. Hidden Door have access to the site and the buildings until the end of 2025.
Stuart Black, Development Director for Summix Capital, said: “We are proud to be part of Hidden Door’s story by making this unique space available to them and the creative community they have built.
“Our vision is for Maybury Quarter Edinburgh to be one of the most exciting and best-connected development sites in Scotland. We’re really excited to see what Hidden Door’s artists can do with the space this autumn and throughout 2025.”
Tickets are now available at hiddendoorarts.org/tickets
Hidden Door is supported by Creative Scotland’s Extended Project Fund.
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