October 14 2021

A creative arts hub in the Perthshire town of Crieff has become the focus of efforts to stimulate a wellness-centred post-Covid recovery with plans for significant improvements and expansion.

Strathearn Arts have engaged Fraser/Livingstone Architects to refashion its historic auditorium to meet the needs of a diverse range of arts from theatre, comedy and music to film, dance and workshops.

Dating from 1816 the town centre venue has established itself as a centre for the local creative economy, hosting a variety of dinners, concerts and lectures but lacking the flexibility to meet the needs of diverse users.

To remedy this and meet future needs a series of alterations are planned including opening up views to the surrounding countryside via a gable extension and a possible combined reception, ticket-office, café and bar facility on Comrie or Lodge Street.

In a project update, the practice wrote: "Crieff itself is a lovely, couthy toon – the sort of place likely to gain from a post-covid refocus on places that are liveable and sociable, rather than big-city-commutable. Strathearn Arts have already shown an implicit understanding of all these opportunities; but, equally, their building has shown itself capable of accommodating the sort of diverse arts and social uses these opportunities bring.

"This project brings these strengths up-to-date, meeting and beating contemporary requirements for access and the touring aspirations of diverse theatre, music, dance, comedy and other acts."

A programme of consultation, business planning and fundraising will take place to set the parameters for any interventions.

1 Comment

#1 Posted by Annie Anderson on 19 Oct 2021 at 10:20 AM

Should we not be concentrating on one site to be developed in Crieff? Is the Crieff hotel site (right beside a car park) not up for redevelopment as something similar?

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