Edinburgh College’s Photography Graduates Unveil Their Vision.
Prepare to be captivated. Prepare to be challenged. Prepare to be EXPOSED.
This June, Edinburgh College’s graduating photography class invites you to witness the culmination of years of dedication, passion, and artistic exploration. EXPOSED 25 is a vibrant testament to the raw talent and innovative perspectives emerging from the heart of Scotland’s creative capital.
EXPOSED 25 is more than just a display of technical skill; it’s a celebration of creativity, resilience, and the power of visual storytelling. Each photograph represents a unique journey, a personal vision, and a bold step into the professional world.
Join us for a night of art, inspiration, and celebration.
Event Details:
Location: Out of the Blue Drill Hall, 36 Dalmeny Street, Edinburgh, EH6 8RG
Dates: 3rd June – 12th
10am – 5pm, closed Sunday
Admission: Free
Don’t miss this opportunity to be EXPOSED to the next generation of photographic visionaries.
Follow us on Insta @edinburghcollegephotography for updates and sneak peeks!
The Royal Scots Regimental Museum will host its annual week-long community outreach exhibition, this year entitled GRETNA 110, at Out of the Blue Drill Hall, Dalmeny Street, Edinburgh EH6 8RG between 1000 – 1630 from Monday 19 to Saturday 24 May 2025.
GRETNA 110 commemorates the 110th anniversary of Britain’s worst rail disaster at Quintinshill, near Gretna, on 22 May 1915. The exhibition raises awareness of the 227 people killed in the crash, including the 216 Royal Scots officers and soldiers of the 1st/7th (Leith) Battalion who were on the first leg of their journey to fight at Gallipoli, and the impact it had on Leith and the wider Lothians community.
The exhibition, being staged at what was the Battalion’s Drill Hall in 1915, will be officially opened at 10:00, Monday 19 May, by Scottish Veterans Commissioner, Susie Hamilton, and Depute Lord Provost of Edinburgh, Councillor Lezley Cameron. There will be a media preview immediately prior to the opening, between 09:30 – 10:00.
The terrible disaster left an indelible scar on the close-knit Leith and Musselburgh communities, with several families losing both fathers and sons. Many of the dead were taken to a temporary mortuary that had been established in the Battalion’s Drill Hall on Dalmeny Street before the majority were buried in the nearby Rosebank Cemetery, Pilrig Street.
A Memorial Service will take place at the cemetery on 24 May. A separate Service will take place at Gretna on the anniversary of the crash.
The GRETNA 110 exhibition includes:
· A short film, ‘Leith’s Darkest Dawn’, explaining the Crash and the aftermath, including a 1983 interview with a survivor and two direct descendants
· Displays, including artefacts recovered from the crash (a molten rifle and bugle) and a paper knife made from the wood of one of the carriages
· A dedicated Research Room with access to The Royal Scots records with genealogy and medals experts
· Moving illustrated stories from some of the soldiers involved and their families
· The important role played by the people of Gretna and Carlise after the Crash
· Long lasting sporting connections including football, boxing and swimming
· Leith Academy’s GRETNA 110 researched creative exhibits display
Brigadier George Lowder MBE, Chair The Royal Scots Trust said: “We should never forget those who lost their lives, and the impact on their families, who were at the beginning of their journey to fight for their country”
Robin Bell: “My father Ian was a platoon commander, of 45 men.
“He survived the Crash, but at the sad roll call afterwards only four of his platoon answered their names.”
Susie Hamilton, Scottish Veterans Commissioner, said: “This exhibition, commemorating the country’s worst-ever rail disaster 110 years ago, honours the young men who lost their lives while on their way to serve their country.
“It speaks to the heartbreak endured by local families and preserves the memory of a deeply poignant chapter in our nation’s history – one that must never be forgotten.”
Exciting new market, celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year
Featuring art and craft stalls and cultural workshops
Free to enter, taking place in the vibrant Out of the Blue Drill Hall in Leith
HelloArt is delighted to announce the Chinese Lunar New Year Market – the first of its kind in Edinburgh.
This vibrant and immersive event will take place on 1st February 2025 at the iconic Out of the Blue Drill Hall and promises to bring the rich traditions and cultural celebrations of the Lunar New Year to life for all to enjoy.
The market will feature:
Art and Craft Stalls: Unique Chinese-inspired creations by local and international artists.
Interactive Cultural Workshops: Hands-on experiences in traditional crafts like calligraphy, paper cutting, and lantern making.
Delicious Pre-Made Food Stalls: Authentic treats including tanghulu, steamed buns, and rice cakes.
The Lunar New Year Market is more than just an event—it’s a celebration of cultural exchange and community connection. By introducing Scottish residents to the lively traditions of the Lunar New Year, HelloArt aims to bridge cultural gaps, fostering mutual understanding and appreciation.
“We are thrilled to bring this unique celebration to Edinburgh,” said Ying Gao, Founder of HelloArt. “Our goal is to create a space where people from all backgrounds can come together to experience the joy and richness of Chinese culture, while also supporting local artists and vendors.”
This event highlights the importance of cultural inclusion, creating a platform for dialogue and connection through art, food, and shared traditions.
The market is open to all and promises to be a memorable experience for families, individuals, and anyone curious about the magic of the Lunar New Year.
Out of the Blue Arts and Education Trustis celebrating 30 years of life in Edinburgh.
Springing from nowhere (hence the name!) into a small gallery space in the centre of Edinburgh in 1994, Out of the Blue now enlivens and animates six buildings in Edinburgh, including the A-listed Out of the Blue Drill Hall in Leith and the iconic Bongo Club in the city centre.
Since 1994, over two million people have come through our doors to work, create, exhibit, perform, eat, drink, dance, teach and learn.
Our creative projects and valuable social initiatives benefit thousands of individuals, and many organisations and communities. Collectively, these ventures are making a significant contribution both to people’s quality of life and to the provision of opportunities in the creative industries for emerging and established artists.
Why commemorate the 30-year milestone?
We worked hard to give birth and sustain our vision (some would say against all odds). Our creative ventures, collaborations and achievements to date are worthy of attention.
We also want to express our gratitude to those individuals and organisations who played a significant role in ‘making it happen’.
How are we commemorating?
On the 30th May 2024 associates from the world of arts and crafts, politics, education and press will gather at the Out of the Blue Drill Hall to sample performance, music and visual art which is representative of our 30-year history.
Throughout the rest of our 30th year, we will showcase 30 events illustrative of a history of many collaborative partnerships.
Rob Hoon, Out of the Blue Chief Executive said: “Out of the Blue is unique and resists classification. Our buildings are not simply artists’ studios, or ‘creative hubs’. Our spaces reflect a model that has developed and been sustained over 30 years, hosting a hybrid of arts, participatory education, enterprise, creativity, and community development.
“There is cross-fertilisation between these areas which support individuals and collective initiatives. This in turn has economic, health and educational benefits for individuals and the local community.”
David Stevenson, Chair of Out of the Blue Board of Directors said: “In an increasingly challenging landscape for arts and cultural organisations, Out of the Blue is a 30 year-success story.
“A social enterprise, we have developed a sustainable business model with creative and cultural activity at its core. We are proud to be a part of the communities that make use of our spaces, and as we celebrate our anniversary we also celebrate the stories of every person who has passed through our doors to ‘do their thing ”
Ally Hill, Managing Director of The Bongo Club said:“The Bongo Club has been pushing the boundaries of the Edinburgh scene since 1996.
“Through the loyal support of the community (and the Council), it has now overcome threats to its existence on three occasions and its third incarnation occupies the cavernous, basement spaces below the Central Library, on Cowgate, since 2013.
The Bongo Club continues to welcome world-class, international talent.
“With a street-wise, level-headed attitude and an international reputation, the Bongo currently operates primarily as a nightclub, albeit one that also hosts regular live events suited to its low ceilings and underground feel.
“Many a rising star has played a live gig at the Bongo, with recent stand-outs including Self Esteem and Kae Tempest.”
Out of the Blue: 30 years as a Creative Development Organisation
Each Out of the Blue building has a creative purpose in its own right, but collectively they drive the growth of the Creative Industries in Edinburgh and Scotland by providing opportunities for employment, education and enterprise.
The buildings provide spaces for studios, workshops, classes, exhibitions, music practice, recording, performance, rehearsal, events, meetings, theatre, music, visual arts, architecture, designers, screen printers, social enterprises, jewellery makers, and more.
As a local organisation that sprung up from grassroot, Out of the Blue has made a significant impact on the city of Edinburgh and the communities we work in, as well as contributing to Scotland’s Creative Industry infrastructure.
Our mission to find and develop creative spaces, and to evolve as a sustained social enterprise with multiple branches, is something worth celebrating!
Throughout our 30-year history we have seen many success stories from those using our spaces to bring their creative vision to life; including
1994: Creating a DIY arts organisation and a gallery space in a shop space in Blackfriars Street, Old Town Edinburgh
1996: Move to New Street followed by the creation of the Bongo Club
2000: Initiating and awarding ‘Tap Water Awards’ as a cheeky response to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe’s Perrier Award
2003: The purchase and refurbishment of the (now A listed) Drill Hall in Leith – now filled with creative activity visited by over 100,000 people each year
2003- present: Providing studio space for artists and organisations that are some of the most successful and vibrant in the city. Out of the Blue accommodates over 200 artists in studios including 50 organisations/SMEs and designers, film companies, events companies, painters, theatre companies, photographers, ceramicists, textile workers, printmakers and musicians
2005: Initiated significant community based initiatives involving young people in a creative project to transform the local park. An outcome of those initiatives was the involvement of many participants in training and employment opportunities at the Out of the Blue Drill Cafe
2015 to present: Created Out of the Blueprint as a risograph print studio, based in the OOTB Drill Hall. RISO printing is a low-cost, eco-friendly print process, using only vegetable inks and 100% recycled paper, with a unique aesthetic.
2017 to present: Transformed Abbeymount Techbase into a centre of imagination and enterprise for 50 artists and hundreds of participants, as Abbeymount Studios for craft and design in the old school at the top of Easter Road.
In total Out of the Blue run:
– 5 public spaces for a combination of studios, performance, rehearsal, music, exhibition, projects, events, classes, workshops, markets, cafes and clubs.
– 4 enterprises; The Bongo Club, The Out of the Blue Drill Hall cafe, Out of the Blueprint and Out of the Blue Abbeymount Studios for craft makers.
– The A listed Out of the Blue Drill Hall
A studio base for over 100 artists
An arts venue for local, national and international artists and others to create, teach, learn manage and perform visited by a total of 100,000 members of the public per annum
A Market venue for artists and local traders
The Drill Hall café, a resource for the local community and a training project for young people with 73,000 customers per annum
– The Bongo Club. Performance venue including live music, club, theatre, spoken word/poetry, film/video art, dance and comedy, practice and workshop facilities.
To find out more about Out of the Blue, please take a look at our dedicated webpage.
City Council supports Community Cinema Hubs Project
granton:hub is leased to announce details of the Local Cinema film programme taking place across community hubs in Edinburgh.
The Local Cinema film programme has been funded by the City of Edinburgh Council via the Creative Community Hubs Network, which brings together eight building-based hubs who are engaging with their local communities in creative ways across Edinburgh.
This is the first shared creative programme produced by the hubs network to date, in a pilot project entitled the Community Cinema Hubs Project that is hoped will be extended more widely across Edinburgh into the future.
The young people who attend Spartans Alternative School are excited to share with you their up and coming art exhibition CREATE TO ESCAPE
Where: Out Of The Blue Drill Hall, 36 Dalmeny Street, Edinburgh, EH6 8RG
When: 5th – 8th September 2023
Exhibition and coffee shop
Open daily 10am-5pm Friday 10-2pm.
The collection of collaborative work by the Young people attending the Alternative School at Spartans Community Football Academy explores the interaction between art, mental health, social identity, and personal perception.
Through spray painting, film, sculpture, design, music, and photography, young people take art outside the curriculum to create space for escapism and well-being within their sometimes hectic and stressful days.
You will also get the chance to see CONCRETE JUNGLE, a film written and directed by the young people and filmed and edited by Rory Easton. This was a collaborative project with writer in residence, Edinburgh International Book Festival’s Chris Barkley.
Sales from the Exhibition will raise money for the charity Turn The Tables DJ, which offers workshops to improve mental health for those affected by homelessness
This exhibition has been possible with the support from ArtSquat, a charity that supports artists on low income to showcase their work.
A selection of traditional Ukrainian art workshops for both children and adults
