Creative enterprise boost for local artists

MC3 Creative Spaces - open event on Friday
MC3 Creative Spaces – open event on Friday

A MORAY SOCIAL Enterprise seeking to find a solution for the lack of artist studio spaces in Moray has succeeded in transforming an old office block into a creative community.

MC3 – or Macthree – was established with the goal of providing comfortable, clean and affordable studio spaces are artists, makers and creative business in Moray.

Now the group’s vision to enable creative practitioners in the region to work in a productive environment has succeeded with the transformation of seven rooms above the Elgin Royal Mail delivery office that had lain unused and derelict for three years.

The rooms have been transformed into 18 studio spaces with the group having taken over the lease at the start of February – and have already had artists from as far afield as Inverness expressing an interest.

However, project leader Charis Edward Wells insists the primary aim is to boost the art trade in Moray, saying: “There are artists here who work in paint, sculpture and photography – but we are open to any creative enterprise.

“The massive problem with the creative culture in Moray is that it is very isolated and artists are spread all over. We will all chip in and help each other here – we want to bring everything together in a community.”

Charis added that they did not, however, wish the space to be exclusive to artists – encouraging anyone wishing to come in to work and learn at the new suite.

The group are staging and introductory culture café event on Thursday with residents invited along to see for themselves the activities in the new studios. That will run from 5pm until 7pm.

An online appeal has also been launched to assist in the purchase of equipment required for the centre – that can be found at https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/mc3-creative-spaces–2#/.