Crowdfund campaign aims to create craft hub for Edinburgh community

Edinburgh artist Lorna Brown is launching a Creative Scotland-backed crowdfund campaign to create a screen-printing and textile craft studio in Newhaven.
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It is a response to the surge in interest in arts and crafts during pandemic lockdowns.

The planned facility is to be called ‘Ink on Mesh’ and will offer affordable studio space for the local community, artists, makers, graduates and hobbyists to meet, learn, explore and connect through the crafts of screen printing and stitched textiles.

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The idea for the studio was devised by local artist and designer Lorna Brown and has been endorsed by Creative Scotland.

The government agency has committed to match-fund the total raised by the four-week Crowdfunder campaign, which launches today.

Outlining her aims for the project, Brown said: “More than ever before there has been a collective move towards hand crafting, learning new creative skills, experimenting with materials and techniques. This is partly due to the accessibility of zoom classes and home learning kits but more so because of the positive effects on health and wellbeing. Crafting is an outlet for folk to express who they are.”

Free access spaces will also be offered each term with the intention of making valued craft skills accessible to all, including those who currently face barriers to creative education.

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The Ink on Mesh community will have access to a fully equipped studio space, a wide range of classes and expert technical support.

Ink on MeshInk on Mesh
Ink on Mesh

The Hub aims to provide a learning environment that nurtures creativity across all age groups and abilities as well as offer one-off experiences, progression routes and professional development in screen printing, textile dying, machine and hand stitched textiles.

Brown added: “Ink on Mesh aims to bring people back together while enjoying the process of making. The studio will offer a starting point for anyone who’s never had experience of screen printing and textiles but could become a pathway and link to further and higher education courses. It will also become a vital resource for textile graduates and the wider creative community requiring studio and equipment to continue their professional development through its membership scheme.”

Those who donate to the Crowdfunder will be offered a range of incentives: exclusively designed products by Blessed Unrest, special collaborative classes and discounts on membership.

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The Crowdfunder runs from March 22 - April 18: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/ink-on-mesh

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