The Stove Network is a membership based arts-led project contributing to the regeneration of Dumfries. It is widely recognised as demonstrating an innovative model for the arts working in a locality. The organisation has five key objectives:
- Support creative career development and the potential within people to become active citizens in society.
- Work in partnership with others to create a new TOWN VISION for Dumfries and cultural vision for South West Scotland, and be part of implementing these.
- 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.
In 2016, The Stove Network received the Scottish Urban Regeneration Forum (SURF) Award for Creative Regeneration and were appointed as the Community Development Trust for Dumfries Town Centre, responsible for organising opportunities and activities within the area.
The space is fully-accessible and encourages the community and wider district to utilise the facility. This space encourages community participation and collaboration with organisations. Before the establishment of the space in 2015, The Stove Network acted as a network, recruiting members locally, creating a cultural community. Community support was essential when presenting plans to stakeholders.
Although based on the High Street, The Stove Network works across the region, building partnerships and collaborations locally, nationally and internationally. The building acts as an artistic hub for the area, providing the community with an awareness of contemporary creativity and socially engaged, public art.
Current Projects
Blueprint100
The Stove Network hosts Blueprint100, a group which supports young creatives and emerging artists under thirty years of age. The programme provides emerging artists with experience, working within a professional, creative environment. The group are encouraged to take part in ongoing projects, conducted by The Stove Network, which involve community participation, providing members with an understanding of socially engaged art. The young artists have opportunities to network with local artists, national artists and other creative organisations. In addition, Blueprint100 guides participants throughout the process of creating an art portfolio and assists students pursuing higher education and vocations.
Midsteeple Quarter in Dumfries Town Centre
The Stove Network leads the community’s bid to ‘reclaim’ the Midsteeple Quarter in Dumfries Town Centre. Numerous derelict, neglected buildings characterise the area, owned by absent landlords and property portfolio organisations requesting excessive rental rates and refusing to invest in renovation. The focus is a cluster of eight buildings which will be rehabilitated as homes, social enterprises and small, local businesses.
Through the project, The Stove Network and members of the community will assist in the refurbishment of these buildings, transforming the image of the town centre. The project has huge community support, with over 300 participating and joining the Community Benefit Society, known as the “Doon Toon Army.” The project was initiated as data analysis revealed that the rate of shop openings in the UK were at their lowest rates. The community was ambitious to repurpose vacant shops creating more opportunities for the town. The launch event to promote this venture took place in April 2018 where the public were invited to learn more about and support this development. The Dumfries and Galloway Council and The Scottish Government have voiced their support of the idea. One council owned building will be contributed to the community by 2020.
Project Stewardship
The Stove Network space on the High Street is owned by Dumfries & Galloway Council and leased to on a peppercorn rent.
The Stove is curated and managed by creatives with a combined knowledge of public and visual art, music, theatre, directing and writing. The Curatorial Team describes themselves as a “collective artistic director.” These curators work in conjunction with a Project Team, responsible for running commissions and an Operations Team, appointed by the Board for executing the curators’ vision and managing finances.