Glasgow City Council awards £1.6M grants for business and projects

Over £1.6M of grants have been awarded to businesses and projects through the Barras Vacant and Underused Floorspace Grant Scheme.

The scheme includes a live music venue, galleries, studios, workshops and market spaces, and aims to bring vacant or underused floorspace back into use, bringing buildings back as part of the local economy by maximising their potential.

The Barras Vacant and Underused Floorspace Scheme aims to create a positive image for the Barras market, where employment and training opportunities will benefit the local community.

Eventually, Barras hopes to become a hub for the more creative industries, such as music, craftspeople, makers and recycling or restoration for furniture.

The projects being funded through the grant scheme are: the former St Luke’s Church on Bain Street (as a music venue); Many Studios on Ross Street (gallery, social spaces and studios); Barras Art and Design 1 & 2 on Moncur Street / Calton Entry (creative industry, market trading and mixed event spaces); the Pipe Factory on Bain Street (workshop / community space, artist studios and exhibition / residency programmed space); and the market at 233 London Road (converting to a multi business space showcasing current environmentally efficient technologies).

Natalia Palombo, Director at MANY Studios said: “This project comes at a pivotal time in the timeline of our organisation. Through the redevelopment of an existing building in the Barras Market, MANY Studios will be able to provide more affordable workspace to a diverse range of creative organisations in the city. Our new site will offer a range of creative resources and project spaces which will enable us to work closely with the practitioners we support to help to develop emerging creative practices in line with the regeneration of Glasgow’s East End.”

The action plan aims to create a new vision of the area, as being connected, social and distinctive – creating an attractive environment.

Funded by Glasgow City Council, the Scottish Government’s Regeneration Capital Grant Fund (RCGF) donation of £1.4M will contribute to economic growth, as part of on-going support towards its regeneration.

The RCGF was developed in partnership with COSLA and local authorities to help deliver major large-scale improvements to deprived areas.

 

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