Whether you work in a creative career path, you’ve got an arty pastime passion, or you simply find looking at beautiful objects and installations inspirational during your down time, there’s no doubt that pandemic lockdowns will have seriously curbed opportunities to slake your intellectual thirst.
So whether you’re on the lookout for a collaborative workspace or you’re just yearning to stare at weird and wonderful artworks, we’ve gathered together a list of legendary locations you can explore (restrictions permitting).
Your five brilliant British creative hubs are coming right up!
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V&A Dundee
Inspired by the craggy coastline of Scotland’s north east coast, the dramatic, Kengo Kuma designed V&A Dundee sits on the banks of the River Tay like an alien craft from another dimension.
If it’s open when you visit, it usually hosts amazing design exhibitions of global significance as well as showcasing Dundee’s design heritage, but if not, wandering around the outside is rewarding enough and Captain Scott’s iconic RMS Discovery ship is close by.
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Tate Modern
Culture vulture visiting London? Look no further than the Tate Modern for inspiration.
This is where you can marvel at amazing artworks like Mountain Lake by Salvador Dali, Andy Warhol’s dayglo Marilyn Diptych, the immersive and impressive Tiny Deaths video installation by Bill Viola and Seagram Murals by Mark Rothko. Whenever it’s open, pack some sandwiches and make a day of it.
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3M BIC
If you’re a tech startup founder, architect, copywriter, website designer in west Yorkshire who wants the (safely distanced) buzz of human collaboration without having to pay over the odds for a formal office space, the 3M Buckley Innovation Centre is the very dab.
As well as providing a comfy space conducive to entrepreneurialism, professional advice and research support are also available. Another advantage of frequenting this establishment is that you may meet future collaborators.
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Oran Mor, Glasgow
Located in Glasgow’s former Kelvinside Parish Church, Oran Mor (‘big song’ in Gaelic) is an inspirational arts venue where you can listen to live music or spoken word performances, have a bite to eat and admire the surroundings.
The beautiful interior murals were designed by the late, great Alasdair Gray: writer, visual artist and polymath.
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Fire Station Creative
Dunfermline is Scotland’s former royal capital (there are still palace ruins here and it’s the burial place of King Robert the Bruce) but it’s also home to the fabulous Fire Station Creative, an amazing Art Deco arts hub where you can learn to sculpt or paint, browse works by resident artists and have a bite to eat and a refreshing drink. Regular exhibitions showcase everything from local punk bands like The Skids to the town’s unique history.
Spend time at any of these brilliant British creative hubs and you’ll feel refreshed, revived and raring to go!
