'Abandoned Artists' find new home in church community space

An Edinburgh church has welcomed a group of "abandoned artists" into its community space.

Corstorphine Old Parish Church is delighted to host the collective of displaced people who have settled in Scotland after fleeing war.

It encourages people from all walks of life to gather in a large, bright room on the upper floor of the Gyle Shopping Centre which is known as Space To Be.

This is where the Artist's Kitchen studio is based and most of the 14 people involved are from Ukraine and known collectively as the "Abandoned Artists".

The project founder is Alena Rogozhkina who left her home in the country's Donbas region in 2002 and travelled widely before coming to Scotland.

Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, she was inspired to create a support system for fellow artists who have no means to continue to practice their profession while settling into their new lives here.

Abandoned Artists offers a full professional development programme, support in finding funding and commercialisation opportunities, and a talent agency as well as opportunities to meet, create and socialise.

Ms Rogozhkina, who enrolled at the University of Stirling in 2016 to study behavioural science, said it meant a lot to all the artists to have finally found a home.

She hopes that the studio will provide space for people not just to create, but to ground themselves and rebuild their lives.

Each of the artists have individual space, a communal space for meetings and a kitchen which they have redecorated and hope to share with other users.

Community Chaplain and project leader Dr Esther Elliott said: "Space To Be is open to local groups, charities and organisations as well as individuals who want to work or catch up with friends and colleagues.

"Our community venture is all about building relationships to make the world a better place and it is fantastic to have Abandoned Artists as part of this.

"Our space was already a lovely, peaceful place full of laughter and generosity.

"Abandoned Artists have joined in and brought with them so much joy, creativity and beauty as well.

"We believe that the world is a better place when the focus is on what is strong about people and places rather than what is wrong."

Space To Be opened in March 2023, partly to help tackle loneliness and the cost of living crisis and is open seven days a week and hosts a wide variety of groups including Corstorphine Old Parish Church, which holds the licence to manage the space as a community venture.

Previously a Burger King restaurant, the room has views over the Pentland Hills and is divided into three zones.

There is private space at the back for meetings and group activities, a cafe-style area with comfy chairs and coffee tables for meet-ups and individual working and reception area for welcoming people and permanent or ad hoc information stands.

There is clean wall space for community exhibitions, an accessible open-air balcony and storage space.

Speaking at the official opening, Corstorphine Old Parish Church minister, Rev Moira McDonald, said: "We want the church to be seen as a place that's welcoming, open, local and available.

"This is a great project to support and illustrates that being involved in the Church isn't just about Sundays, activities are available throughout the week too."

Lord Provost of Edinburgh Robert Aldridge attended the ceremony and described Space To Be as a "hugely valuable asset to the whole community."