A new project will see 11 vacant shop units on Glasgow's historic High Street and Saltmarket transformed into interim/temporary spaces, most of which are for the creative industries.

This Meanwhile Space project aims to both increase the vitality of areas by increasing footfall and support new and growing businesses.  The first of these - the New Glasgow Society, an art gallery, moved in on 21 May, with all of the other units to be occupied shortly.   

The initiative, one of 26 exciting projects being delivered as part of the Glasgow City Council's High Street Area Strategy (HSAS), is being delivered by City Property Glasgow (Investments) and funded by City Property Glasgow (Investments) and Glasgow City Council, is also part of the council's wider Space for Growth strategy, will see a number of long term vacant shop units transformed into temporary creative spaces.

Based in the Saltmarket, St Andrews Street and High Street areas of the city, the shop units have undergone extensive renovation work over the last six months to transform these until they are ready for occupation.  Each space has a programme of exciting events lined up over the next year which include a number of exhibitions and workshops open to the public.

The initiative, which has already seen success in London and Paris, is part of the HSAS plans to revitalise the area, helping to develop creative organisations, creating jobs and supporting inclusive economic growth across Glasgow. It is also hoped that by making the units available to the creative community that the initiative will complement the vision outlined in the HSAS; supporting a thriving local community, with a visitor offer focused on the unique heritage assets of the area and the independent businesses within this historic corridor.

There will be an evaluation of the project by Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, which will consider the roll-out of similar models to other parts if Glasgow.

Launching the project in WASPS,a non-profit studio provider for creative tenants,in St Andrew's Street today (Wednesday 26 June) were Councillor Susan Aitken, Leader of Glasgow City Council, and Councillor Angus Millar, Chair of the High Street Reference Group, who were joined by Audrey Carlin, Chief Executive Officer of WASPS.

Source: Glasgow City Council