Celebrating the past, enriching the present, and shaping a creative future through art, archives, community, and collaboration.
Craigmillar Now is the arts & heritage organisation rooted in the heart of Craigmillar, Edinburgh. We are dedicated to celebrating the past, enriching the present, and shaping a creative future—through art, archives, community, and collaboration.
Our mission is to support creativity, foster social connection, and encourage community engagement through a diverse programme of exhibitions, artist residencies, workshops, and public events. We're committed to celebrating the rich heritage and creativity of Craigmillar and surrounding areas while actively supporting new voices and contemporary artistic practice.
At Craigmillar Now, we believe that creativity has the power to transform lives and strengthen communities. We provide a welcoming space where everyone can explore their creative potential, connect with others, and contribute to the cultural life of our area.
The building at 58 Newcraighall Road (EH15 3HS) is a Category B-listed structure, formerly known as St Andrew's Church. Designed by John Robertson of Inverness around 1900, it features a "Lanceted Modern Gothic" style.
The building was opened by the Scottish Episcopal Church in 1901, serving as St Andrew's Church for most of the 20th century, up to about 1976. In 1976, the Craigmillar Festival Society (CFS) transformed the building into a community-arts space.
This transformation from a former church to a dedicated arts and cultural space mirrors Craigmillar's wider story of resilience, regeneration, and creativity. Our building stands as a testament to the community's ability to reimagine and repurpose spaces to serve new creative purposes.
Building designed by John Robertson of Inverness in "Lanceted Modern Gothic" style.
Opened as St Andrew's Church by the Scottish Episcopal Church.
Craigmillar Festival Society (CFS) founded by local women to celebrate community creativity and address social issues through arts.
CFS transformed the former St Andrew's Church into a community-arts space.
Craigmillar Festival Society wound down and disbanded.
Craigmillar Now founded, building on the CFS legacy. Moved into the former St Andrew's Church building.
Expanded our programmes to include residencies, workshops, exhibitions, and community events, establishing ourselves as a key cultural hub with a focus on archives and heritage.
Craigmillar is a place with deep roots. Though much of its housing and physical form are more modern, Craigmillar's historic heart includes Craigmillar Castle, which dates back to the 14th-15th centuries.
Newcraighall, adjoining Craigmillar, developed significantly in the late 18th and 19th centuries, particularly owing to mining. The Klondyke coal pit opened in 1897, and until 1968 coal mining shaped much of the local economy and community.
Mining villages, miners' cottages, and related infrastructure once flourished here. Some of these cottages survive, and several have been restored.
Over time, Craigmillar has also become known for its community activism, arts & cultural innovation, particularly through movements like the Craigmillar Festival Society.
Artistic Director
Jane brings over 15 years of experience in community arts and has a passion for developing creative opportunities for local residents.
Community Engagement Officer
David works to connect local people with our programmes and ensures our activities respond to community needs and interests.
Heritage Coordinator
Maria oversees our archive and heritage projects, helping to preserve and share Craigmillar's rich cultural history.
Volunteer Coordinator
Tom supports our team of dedicated volunteers who are essential to the running of our programmes and events.
Studio Manager
Sarah manages our artist studios and supports the creative practitioners who work from our building.
Our team is supported by a dedicated board of trustees and a wonderful group of volunteers who share our passion for arts, heritage, and community.
We operate an Open Archive Service. Our collections include materials related to Craigmillar's heritage: social, industrial, environmental, artistic, and more.
We are here for people researching:
Exhibitions, residencies, workshops, artist support and events form the core of our work. We work both with artists whose roots are in Craigmillar and with those whose work connects to our community's concerns.
Examples of recent work include exhibitions by Syrian artist Nihad Al Turk, a residency by Ugandan artist Barbara Byahurwa, among others.
We also offer:
We envision a Craigmillar where creativity thrives, heritage is celebrated, and everyone has the opportunity to participate in and benefit from cultural activities. We believe that the arts have the power to bring people together, spark conversations, and create positive change in our community.
Through our work, we aim to:
We welcome everyone and strive to remove barriers to participation in the arts.
We're rooted in our local area and responsive to community needs and aspirations.
We believe in the transformative power of creativity and artistic expression.
The Craigmillar Festival Society (CFS) was founded in the early 1960s by local women inspired to celebrate community creativity and address social issues via the arts. One local legend says it arose when a mother was unsuccessful in securing violin lessons for her child — this sort of grassroots determination underpins much of the CFS's early work.
Over decades, the CFS established strong programmes: community festivals, theatre, exhibitions, workshops, and created opportunities for many local people. It also became one of the most important community arts projects in Scotland in the 20th century.
However, by the early 2000s, the CFS wound down and eventually disbanded (around 2002).
Craigmillar Now continues this legacy by providing a space where creativity can flourish and community connections can be strengthened. One of our founding missions: to create a public archive for Craigmillar's stories — past and present — and to bring back into public life collections such as the records of the Craigmillar Festival Society.
Our work is inspired by Craigmillar's spirit of resilience, collaboration, and innovation. We're proud to be part of a community that values creativity and recognises its importance in building a vibrant, connected neighbourhood.
58 Newcraighall Road
Edinburgh EH15 3HS
(Opposite Fort Kinnaird Retail Park)
07447 812666
info@craigmillarnow.com
Archives: Wednesdays, 10am-1pm (by request)
Please contact us for current hours of workshops, exhibitions, and residencies.
There are many ways to get involved with Craigmillar Now:
Our building is wheelchair accessible with ramp access and accessible facilities. If you have specific accessibility requirements, please contact us in advance so we can ensure your visit is comfortable.
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