FAQ

What is it?

A major new centre for public participation in the contemporary arts housed in a stunning new building in Union Terrace Gardens.

What's it all about?

The new centre for the contemporary arts will be the first of its kind in the North of Scotland. It is expected to attract around 200,000 visitors a year, bring around £5 million annually into the local economy and provide a centre of excellence which will attract some of the world's finest contemporary artists to come and work and exhibit in Scotland.

The £13 million development is the result of a pioneering partnership between Aberdeen City Council and Peacock Visual Arts and will bring four of the city's key arts organisations together under one roof to in a new and innovative way of bringing arts to the people.

The new centre will provide a major new cultural facility for the North of Scotland. The centre's activities will span the contemporary arts from hosting exhibitions by world-class artists to running community outreach and education projects.

The landmark building will house galleries, printmaking, television and dance studios, workshops and space for music, film screenings and talks.

The centre will have a major educational focus involving thousands of school children and young adults and provide the North of Scotland with a much-needed hub for the creative industries.

Digital pioneers and film-making will also find a home in the development. The state-of-the-art digital lab and tv studio in the new centre will provide world-class facilities to local filmmakers.

What can I do there?

The new centre will have activities and attractions for people of all ages and all interests: from taking in the work of world-class artists to making your own masterpiece in our classes, studios and workshops; from sampling a new genre of dance to sampling some fantastic food and drink in the garden view cafe bar; from the finest in schools' arts education to pioneering community outreach activity; from the cutting edge of digital technologies to the traditional fine art of printmaking, whatever your interest in the arts, whether spectator or participant, the new centre will be a welcoming and exciting hub of creative energy.

What are other people saying about it?

“The new cultural heart of Aberdeen City and Shire”

“A stunning new Centre for Contemporary Arts in Aberdeen's Union Terrace Gardens.”

“A creative powerhouse for the North of Scotland”

“A cultural and social hub welcoming world-class talent to the city, giving a focus for local arts activity and providing the region with an international centre for excellence.”

“One of the most exciting cultural developments in today's Scotland.”

Who are the organisations involved?

The new building will re-house Peacock Visual Arts, Aberdeen's City Council's Arts Development team (Whitespace), Arts Education Team and provide City Moves, Aberdeen's contemporary Dance agency, with new facilities.

The University of Aberdeen and Robert Gordon University are also involved in the project, which will provide for them a city centre forum for civic engagement, knowledge transfer, research and presentation.

Who are the architects?

Brisac Gonzalez are award-winning London based architects who specialise in museums, cultural centres and mixed use facilities.

Their first built work The Museum of World Culture in Gothenburg received an A/A / UK Chapter Excellence in Design Award, was selected for the European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture, was awarded the Kasper Salins Prize in 2004 for the best new building in Sweden and the Dedalo Minosse International Prize in Italy.

They are currently working on projects in London, Moscow and Paris and we are delighted to have them on board for the Centre of Contemporary Arts in Aberdeen. www.brisacgonzalez.com

How much will it cost?

The total development costs for the building are £13.1million

The Scottish Arts Council have awarded us £4million of lottery funding towards the new centre. Aberdeen City Council have pledged £3million in the form of a loan and a grant of £2million is anticipated from Scottish Enterprise. Announcements will be made later in the year.

A Capital Fundraising appeal will be launched to complete the development.

Why Union Terrace Gardens?

The Garden's at present do not fulfil their potential as the major recreational green space in the city centre. Perceived by some as unsafe, use of them, over the years has declined. A recent survey by RGU stated that on average only 14 people per day used the gardens. The new centre will help to regenerate the gardens helping make them safe and secure and creating a pleasant, welcolming environment for visitors to the City centre.

Award-winnning architects Brisac Gonzalez have received praise from Architecture and Design Scotland for their sensitive design and vision.

The green public will remains as recreational space and instead the Centre will be located in “hard landscaping” of the terrace (an area of tarmac footpaths etc) The building's sensitive design with grass roofs and terraces mean that in effect the gardens will be 'greener' after its installation. The footprint of the new building is shown in the map below.

What about the trees?

There are a number of trees that will be inevitably and regrettably lost. Many of these are trees which are nearing the end of their natural lifespan.

However the development will undertake a comprehensive replanting in the gardens and will replace all the trees that are being lost with semi-mature specimens of the same kind or better.

Will the new centre be accessible?

The new arts centre will be fully accessible to all users. This has a specific added benefit to wheelchair users who will not only be able to fully utilise the facilities of the new arts centre but who will also be able to enjoy the gardens which are currently inaccessible.

When will it open?

The building is scheduled to open late 2010

How can I get involved?

There are lots of ways to get involved with the new centre and we’d be delighted to hear from you. Please talk to us about getting involved by calling Elly Rothnie, Campaign Director or 01224 639 539 or emailing elly@peacockvisualarts.com