After an £8 million refurbishment, August 2008 saw the opening of Dovecot: new studio, exhibition and living spaces in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town. The newly renovated former Victorian Baths will provide a permanent home for Dovecot Studios and an exciting new workshop space in which to develop collaborations with international artists and designers.

Age of Experience: 4th April to 20th June 2009 (Wednesday to Saturday, 11am - 5pm, Admission Free)

The only Scottish showing of this outstanding collection of ceramics, textiles, glass and jewellery curated by Mary La Trobe-Bateman for Ruthin Craft Centre in Wales. Leading names from a senior generation whose impact on the art of making is internationally recognised are gathered here for the first time: Fred Baier, Svend Bayer, Gordon Baldwin, Richard La Trobe-Bateman, Caroline Broadhead, Peter Collingwood, David Drew, Elizabeth Fritsch, Walter Keeler, Annette Meech, Mary Restieaux, Michael Rowe, Richard Slee, David Watkins, and Christopher Williams; to show the variety and vitality of the applied arts across seven disciplines in an exhibition that celebrates their impact on the development of the field of craft. The exhibition is being brought to Dovecot by IC: Innovative Craft in association with the Ruthin Craft Centre.
www.innovativecraft.co.uk www.ruthincraftcentre.org.uk

1989-2009: Celebrating 20 Years of the Alastair Salvesen Art Scholarship: 5th to 30th May 2009 (Wednesday to Saturday, 11am - 5pm, Admission Free)

Since 1989 the RSA Alastair Salvesen Art Scholarship has provided young artists based in Scotland the opportunity to broaden their horizons through travel. Each year the £10,000 prize enables an artist to realise their answer to the question "If you could go anywhere..." with the opportunity to showcase the resulting work in a solo exhibition at the RSA. In May this achievement will be celebrated with an exhibition of works by past recipients of the award : Paul Furneaux, Derek McGuire, Ian Charles Scott, Michele David, Janet Swailes, Barry McGlashan, Lorna McIntosh, Eoghann MacColl, David Martin, Jackie Anderson, Edward Summerton, Charles Stiven, Moira Scott, Andrew Cranston, Lee O’Connor, Claire Banks, Angus McEwan, Mark Gilbert, Delia Baillie, Euan Gray.
www.dovecotstudios.com www.royalscottishacademy.org

Mr Gumpy and Other Outings: Celebrating 50 years of John Burningham's Work: 7th July to 5th September 2009 (July: Tuesday to Saturday 11am - 5pm; Aug/Sept: Monday to Saturday 11am - 5pm)

This exhibition celebrates the rich and varied career of one of Britain's most distinguished and best-loved illustrators and authors.
www.dovecotstudios.com

The Creative World of Alan Davie: 5th August to 26th September 2009 (Aug: Monday to Saturday 11am - 5pm; Sept: Tuesday to Saturday 11am - 5pm)

This exhibition celebrates the remarkable breadth of work from one of Scotland's most respected and influential artists. At 89 Alan Davie continues to work in different mediums with an energy that belies his years.
Admission £3 (£2 concessions)
www.dovecotstudios.com

Jerwood Contemporary Makers 2009: 5th August to 26th September 2009 (Aug: Monday to Saturday 11am - 5pm; Sept: Tuesday to Saturday 11am - 5pm)

Jerwood Contemporary Makers II forms part of the Jerwood Charitable Foundation's landmark Jerwood Visual Arts initiative which explores and celebrates achievement across a spectrum of artforms from dance to making to new media.
www.innovativecraft.co.uk www.jerwood.org

Festival Late Night Openings! On wednesdays the exhibitions will be open until 7pm throughout the Ediburgh Art Festival.

Images details: Elizabeth Fritsch, Firework Vase; Jackie Anderson, 1.25-1.26 Port of Spain, 2008; John Burningham, Pomifer Autumnuse, 1961; Alan Davie in Gamels Studio (photo Iain Roy); Geoffrey Mann, Flight Take-off, 2008.

Dovecot will continue to open the doors of the viewing balcony on the first Tuesday of the month, 10.30am - 12.30pm and a small admission fee will be charged. The next opening dates will be:

Tuesday 7 April, 10.30am - 12.30pm
Tuesday 5 May, 10.30am - 12.30pm
Tuesday 2 June, 10.30am - 12.30pm

Admission Fee: £3 (£2 Concessions, Under-16s Free)

Please note that in July & August the John Burningham exhibition will be on the balcony. The exhibition is free.

For those visitors who would like to learn about Dovecot Studios in more detail and visit the weaving studio, we are able to offer pre-arranged private group visits. Daytime visits take place at 10am-12noon or 2-4pm. Evening visits are 6-8pm.

Each two hour visit consists of a guided tour of the current exhibitions as well as a tour of the tapestry studio from the viewing balcony led by a member of the Dovecot team. There will also be an opportunity to look around the exhibitions in your own time. Daytime visits include tea, coffee and biscuits; evening visits include wine and simple canapes.

Visits cost £8 per person (daytime) and £12 per person (evening).

The galleries at Dovecot can be hired for the hosting of exhibitions. They can either be hired individually, or together as one large exhibition space. With ERCO lighting and specially rendered walls the galleries can provide versatile space for a variety of cultural uses.

During exhibitions the galleries are also an ideal place for entertaining, with a capacity of up to 350 people.

On the first floor, the Meeting Room is an ideal venue for mettings, talks and training days.

For enquiries, please contact Dovecot.

Photo: Shannon Tofts