Macduff Empty Shop to Get Makeover

Nov. 9, 2009 - PRLog -- A boarded up shop formerly used by Maritime and Heritage Society in Duff Street, Macduff is set to get a makeover by Banff and Macduff Community Trust (BMCT). The Trust will be working with local artists to transform the building with artwork relevant to its location.
BMCT Operations and Development Manager said: “£1000 is the maximum that can be awarded for this type of grant and we are really grateful to Banff and Buchan Arts Forum for supporting this project.”
In spring 2009 BMCT instigated a participatory photographic survey of what was most liked and disliked about the Towns. 64% of the photos returned showed that, by far, the most prevalent dislike was run-down boarded up properties and unsightly public places.

Mrs Poustie continued: “This is the first building we will tackle and the property owners are extremely supportive. I hope this will encourage others to come forward in the future and grant permission for similar projects including Coast Festivals Living Spaces Project.”

Coast Festival aims to engage with the communities of Banff and Macduff and bring quality contemporary art experiences to the heart of the towns. To that end, Coast is working with BMCT to create a temporary public art project that will feature over the weekend of Festival at the end of May 2010. Two artists will be engaged, one for each town, to produce a temporary intervention, based on the artist’s response to defined areas within the towns, research from the Trust and workshops with residents and locally based artists.

It is hoped that these projects will help to reduce the negative impact boarded up shops have on the Towns, which is vital for community and business confidence.

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Banff and Macduff Community Trust Ltd (BMCT) is a community-led company limited by guarantee established in January 2009 to undertake projects providing benefit to the towns of Banff and Macduff.