Last week the

Last week the Edinburgh ‘Evening News’ announced that the Calton Hill observatory is to become a year-round arts venue, open to the public on a permanent basis for the first time.

Visual arts group The Collective Gallery plans to run a programme of exhibitions and arts projects in the building if the Council agrees to plans for the group to move from its premises at Cockburn Street to the Calton Hill.

Councillors will decide this week on commissioning a feasibility study. It’s estimated that the project could attract several thousands of additional visitors to Calton Hill every month.

Councillor Deidre Brock, the city’s culture and leisure leader, said: “The regeneration of Calton Hill has grown arms and legs in recent years. It is a win-win situation because it will enable Collective to have an even more prominent base, while allowing those that go up there and admire the views to have even more to do.”

The Gallery’s two-week exhibition at the observatory last summer attracted 4000 visitors. It’s hoped that the permanent relocation can be completed by the end of this year and that the new venue will help support emerging Scots and international artists.

Photograph courtesy of Edinburgh World Heritage.