The Stove Network

Registered Scottish charity and Company Limited by Guarantee

£52,429 (2017-18)

Equipment, vehicle and fittings

The Stove was formed in 2011 by local artists and creative professionals, who presented an idea to D&G Chamber of Commerce (DGCoC) for running 100 High Street as a public arts centre. D&G Council supported the aims of the Stove project as it was in line with council objectives regarding young people, economic development of the creative industries sector and promoting additional footfall and activity in the town centre.

The first stage of building works was council-led and was completed in March 2015. This essentially made the building accessible for all by installing a lift.

Stage Two of the building works – led by The Stove – was completed in February 2016. This transformed the bottom floor into a bespoke cafe, creating a Stove office and multipurpose studio space. This work was funded by Creative Scotland, Holywood Trust, D&G Council and the Ed Marshall Trust.

The Stove Network’s objectives are to:

• Support creative career development and active citizenship.

• Work with others to create and implement a new town vision for Dumfries and a new cultural vision for southwest Scotland.

• Break new ground in the field of socially-engaged art practice.
•  Make new opportunities for people to be involved in the arts as audiences and/or active participants.

• Build and sustain an organisation based on principles of collective working, diversity and inclusion.

It is achieving these aims by:

• Working with its membership, as well as other agencies, groups and individuals across society.

• Its artistic programme.

• Using its building as a hub for the region’s creative sector and local community to actively engage with the place they live.

The Stove has a board of 10 people, but its governance is better explained in the Staff section.

Loreburn Community Council, Loreburn Housing Association, Dumfries and Galloway Housing Partnership, DG Voice, DG Multicultural Association, Massive Outpouring Of Love (refugee support), LGBT+, DG Chamber of Commerce, University of West of Scotland, Lochside is Families Together, Sandside Community Garden Project, Peter Pan Moat Brae Trust, HMP Dumfries, Soul Soup, Dumfries Makers Market, Rosefield Mills Regeneration Project, Dumfries High Street Limited, Wee Fringe, DG Arts Festival, Big Burns Supper, The Family Centre, Upland, Theatre Royal Dumfries, Sleeping Giants, Vanishing Scotland, Dumfries Historic Buildings Trust, Nith Navigation Commissioners, Third Sector D+G, Dumfries Music Conference, D-Lus Festival of Light.

Green Arts Initiative, Development Trusts Association Scotland, Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere, Nourish Scotland, SURF, Artworks Alliance, Dumfries and Galloway Council, Creative Scotland, The Holywood Trust, Barfil Trust and the Ed Marshall Trust

100 High Street, Dumfries

Provides a fully accessible public arts space/facility/resource for the population of the town and the wider region.

Supports a network that creates opportunities and connections for the creative community and integrates with the local economy and wider society.

Works with artists, young people, local people and groups to make public art events and activities in Dumfries.

Builds national and international connections for the arts in South West Scotland.

 Launched Midsteeple Quarter – the trading name of a new Community Benefit Society which was setup to enable local people to help shape a prosperous, compassionate and vibrant Dumfries town centre for the future.

Midsteeple is controlled by its members for the benefit of the community it is set up to serve. It will take ownership of a group of disused buildings on the Dumfries High Street, refurbish and steward them as affordable community enterprise spaces at street level, and convert the floors above into good quality flats for rent.

Runs premises at 100 High Street, including a community cafe, to make Dumfries a fully accessible public arts space/facility/resource for the population of the town and the wider region.

Supports a network that creates opportunities and connections for the creative community and integrates the local economy and wider society.

Works with artists, young people, local people and groups to deliver public art events and activities in Dumfries.

Provides national and international connections for the arts in South West Scotland.

The Stove has also delivered the following projects:Brave New Words – the Stove’s monthly open mic night for writers, artists, musicians and songwriters to share words spoken or sung to an audience in the heart of the town centre.

The Creative Futures project – a National Lottery-funded programme of the Stove Network working in the Lochside and Lincluden areas of North West Dumfries to bring local people together to develop their creative talents.

The annual Dumfries Music Conference, which includes workshops, live performances and film screenings.

The Lochside Public Art Project – alongside DGHP and the Creative Futures project, the Lochside project aims to allow local residents to have impact and influence over their local environment through a series of permanent visual artworks and projects, and community events and activities in the surrounding areas.

Nithraid – a celebration of the relationship between Dumfries and its rive, run in collaboration with D&G Council, Creative Scotland, The Holywood Trust, Barfil Trust and local businesses.

Our Norwegian Story – year-long project running from March 2016 to April 2017 to explore, celebrate and share Dumfries’ unique connections to Norway and Nordic culture in Scotland.

Reel to Real – The Stove’s ongoing series of film screenings of topical and issue-based films and documentaries exploring current issues such as activism, ethical consumerism, and land issues, both locally and internationally. It’s often followed by informal discussions.

Lowland – three-year project devoted to exploring senses of belonging and place in Dumfries, collecting poetry, short fiction, diaries or illustration from the community.

Blueprint100 – an open and inviting group who provide creative experiences and opportunities for young people.

Stove Cafe/arts space/facility/resource at 100 High Street

Runs a number of very successful projects with high levels of community engagement.

Only artist-led Community Development Trust in the UK.

 Awarded the Scottish Regeneration Award for Creativity in Regeneration, 2016.

Balancing community expectations with the capacity to deliver.

A leap of faith never fails.

Helping Dumfries and Galloway develop sufficient capacity and networking in community/creative enterprise to partner nationally and internationally.