Fundraising bid for Orkney Creative Hub proposal

A major fundraising campaign has been launched to raise cash for a new art, design and crafts centre for the Orkney community.

Organisers behind the Orkney Creative Hub project are looking to raise £1 million by April to buy and adapt the former Ortak workshop and visitor centre in Kirkwall and are now appealing for public support.

The Orkney Creative Hub aims to provide a central location for education, development and enterprise opportunities for artists, designers and crafters of all ages and abilities, across many disciplines, from within and outwith Orkney.

The initiative – driven by Orkney Crafts Association, Orkney Arts and Crafts and the not-for-profit art shop, For Arts Sake – has been set up as a community interest company, ensuring its assets will stay within the community. Any profits from the project will be distributed to local charities.

The project team – currently making approaches to a wide range of potential external funders – is keen to offer the Orkney community opportunities to support the initiative at an affordable level.

“We’re asking members of the community if they could sponsor a square foot of the Ortak building for £10, with the aim of raising around £250,000,” explained Orkney Arts and Craft’s Clive Horton.

“We only have exclusivity on the Ortak premises until April and then it’ll go back on the open market. It’s a challenge, but we’re hoping the people of Orkney will see the value of the project and help us secure the building to make this dream come true.”

Anyone who’d like to make a donation to the project can do so via the donation button on the Orkney Creative Hub website www.orkneycreativehub.org.uk

There are also options to become project members, without any financial obligation.