The result of an innovative community arts project which has transformed a building site hoarding in west Edinburgh.

Nearly 60 local young people have tried their hands at street art to create a mural design on the hoarding for the new Drumbrae Library and Community Hub.

The young people worked with Impact Arts, and professional artist, Gemma Coyle, to create seven large panels depicting the local area and famous characters from literature.

The panels incorporated a number of paint techniques and provided them with new skills to take forward into their school classes.

The project was jointly funded by Morrison Construction and hub South East Scotland who are delivering the new library and community hub.

The team from the City of Edinburgh Council 's Community Learning and Development section based at the Rannoch Centre, worked with the local young people and Impact Arts, a national community arts organisation, who use the arts to change people's lives.


Councillor Jenny Dawe, local councillor for the Drumbrae/Gyle ward, said: "This is a very exciting time for the Drumbrae area, as we can now see the new library and day care centre really starting to take shape. This will be a modern facility at the heart of the community and something locals have been campaigning for some time.

"It is great to see the enthusiasm and creativity of the young people involved and I would like to thank them for all their hard work. I would also like to thank our partners hub South East Scotland and Morrison Construction for making this possible and our team at the Rannoch Centre."

Jay Lafferty, Impact Arts' programmes manager, said: "Impact Arts has been involved in the community consultation process for the new Drumbrae Library and Community Hub. Through consulting with local children and young people Gemma was able to design a mural that shows how the local community wishes to use the centre. Taking inspiration from characters in literature the children thoroughly enjoyed creating the finished product."

Joan Best, Rannoch Centre's Community Learning and Development Worker, added: "The children who attended the Easter Club at The Rannoch Centre thoroughly enjoyed coming up with the ideas for the mural and then painting the mural. They are so excited that it is going up on the fence around the new library and hopefully will be displayed in the library when it is finished."

(GK)