Granton Hub Edinburgh – Community arts

If you know what you’re looking for, you can easily find the red brick Granton Hub (aka Madelvic House) in North Edinburgh. It’s a development area and this community centre is in a truly historic building with a rich industrial heritage.

Fronted by a sphinx, it is by the first electric car factory, dating from 1898 (now a ruin), and full of interesting ongoing presentations. A prosaic building, it is the corridor walls with old black and white photos and the fascinating conversations with local historians which I like. Telling me about sitting in the harbour with his grandpa, or collecting mussels with his uncle, the resident specialists have many stories to tell. The best way to hear them is to go on one of their walks, however, if one isn’t on, you can download maps or use the Curious Edinburgh app to explore.

The Edinburgh Community Garden is always open with its herbs and fruiting plants, providing a quiet space to sit and sniff the lavender. The nearby Community Orchard is adjacent. Granton Hub has art rooms, regular exhibitions, and workshops covering painting and printmaking. I couldn’t believe the range of work on show when I went to a Friday night opening – sculptures of local activists, photographs of the coastline, plus jewellery made by beachcombers.

There are Grassroots Remedies, weekly meditation sessions, Death Cafes and lots more, so join the mailing list and check out what’s on. Please note, not open on a regular daily basis, but for events only.