After a £5 million refurbishment, August 2008 sees the opening of Dovecot together with its new tapestry 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 provides an exciting new workshop space in which to develop collaborations with international artists and designers.

Weaving Influences: 50 Years of Artist Tapestry from Scotland’s Dovecot Studios

Weaving Influences looks at the role different artists and designers have played in the life of the Studios in the post-war period. Sculptors, textile-designers, painters and printmakers have all worked with Dovecot weavers to create spectacular tapestries for both public and private collections. The skill and innovation of the Studios will be illustrated by a selection of Dovecot tapestries alongside examples of the artists’ and designers’ works across a range of different mediums.

Raising the Bar: International Metalwork

Curated by IC:Innovative Craft, this exhibition will show around 50 newly created works by distinguished designers from around the world. Scotland has a strong tradition of hosting international art and design, from the Glasgow World Fairs in the early 20th century to exhibitions in the Museum of Scotland in the 21st century. Scotland also has a strong tradition of metalwork and silversmithing. Raising the Bar brings together some of the most influential voices in this field from around the world for the first time.