A former school in the centre of Perth is just weeks away from reopening as the city’s new Creative Exchange.
The old St John’s Primary buildings have had a £4.5m facelift and are filling up fast.
The Stormont Street premises are not due to open until November and are already at 85% capacity.
Classrooms and offices throughout the 81-year-old school have been converted into a series of studios which will be rented out to artists and people working in creative industries.
Students from Perth College UHI, Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design and Dundee University will also be exhibiting their coursework at the exchange later in the academic year.
The site had lain empty since the school buildings were vacated in 2010 and it had become a magnet for vandals.
A number of bodies and trusts put up funding to help bring it back to life.
Wasps (Workshop and Artists Studio Provision Scotland) which runs similar set-ups across the country, have taken on the running of the building from Perth and Kinross Council on a 25 year lease.
The charity will employ a manager for the resident creatives to deal with. Tenants will be encouraged to mingle with each other and to hold joint exhibitions.
Artists will be permitted to sell goods from their studios, and will have 24/7 access to the building. It will also feature a modern cafe, kitchen and shower facilities.
Contractors Robertson were behind the upgrade. The works included new steps linking the upper and lower part of the grounds and planting outside. Some original features have been retained, including the school’s old deep-set sinks.
Wasps chief executive Audrey Carlin said: “We had looked at the old school at Caledonian Road, but chose the St John’s site instead.
“The Creative Exchange focuses on mixing artists with other artists, and we’re working with Business Gateway to help move artists into their own premises when they are ready. It will be a pipeline of talent.”
Conservative councillor Angus Forbes said: “This is a huge investment and it’s great to support creatives in Perth. This will be good for the city centre and I’m glad that the building has been brought back to use rather than being knocked down.”
