Whale Arts Agency

Wester Hailes Arts for Leisure and Education

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The Team


Craig Tyrie
, Community Reporter
Craig writes the majority of content for the Digital Sentinel, the local news website for Wester Hailes, keeping up to date with community news and finding out what’s on in the local area. He runs weekly IT drop-ins, here at WHALE or at Clovenstone Community Centre. He is always on the lookout for local people who are interested in becoming volunteer community reporters and writing their own stories and content for the website.

Dawn Borthwick, Support Worker and Cleaner
Dawn supports a variety of our adult and young people’s groups.  She also makes sure the building in clean and tidy.

Kate Griffin, Creative Programme Manager
Kate manages WHALE Arts’ programme of arts activities for families, children and young people, including creative and strategic development, programming and working with partner organisations and artists to create exciting and engaging arts projects. She is responsible for the following groups: Creative Adventures, LYT: Discover, and Eco smARTies, as well as the holiday programme and WHALE’s exhibition programme.

Kirsty Frankland, CrEATe Development Worker 
Kirsty works with Whale Arts and the Tasting Change project team, delivering a range of activities and events designed to engage the community in creative approaches to dignified food provision and skills development opportunities.

Kim Thomson, Front of House Administrator
Kim is the first point of contact for visitors and tenants, on the phone or in person. You can contact her if you need to book a room or have an inquiry about WHALE Arts activities. She is responsible for the WHALE Arts website and social media channels.

Leah Black, Chief Executive
Leah is responsible for WHALE Arts’ strategic and operational development. She oversees all aspects of WHALE’s programming, building, staff, finances, and ensures the organisation achieves its objectives. Leah joined WHALE Arts in April 2018, bringing a wealth of experience in cultural production and strategy as the first Director of Upland in Dumfries and Galloway and latterly as the craft specialist in the Creative Industries team at Creative Scotland. Leah has a background as a maker and is currently a Warden of the Incorporation of Goldsmiths of the City of Edinburgh.

Michael Bowdidge, Creative Placemaking Project Lead and Street Arts Coordinator
Michael works with local residents in Wester Hailes to develop and deliver a programme of regular creative activities, one-off events, and participatory public art installations that respond to local assets and aspirations. Michael is also responsible for managing the Street Arts team, programming exciting and innovative creative activities with partner artists, and engaging with young people as part of our award winning Street Arts project.

Rebecca Green, Creative Placemaking Project Lead
Rebecca works with local residents in Wester Hailes to develop and deliver a programme of regular creative activities, one-off events, and participatory public art installations that respond to local assets and aspirations.

Volunteers
Taylior Munro

What's On

Feb
25
Mon
1:00 pm smART CRAFT @ WHALE Arts Centre
smART CRAFT @ WHALE Arts Centre
Feb 25 @ 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
A weekly visual arts and crafts group for adults with complex or additional support needs. The group explores creativity and expression with varied art materials, and is run by a professional artist and support worker.[...]
4:00 pm Film Making Drop-In with Screen ... @ Wester Hailes Library
Film Making Drop-In with Screen ... @ Wester Hailes Library
Feb 25 @ 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm
Film Making Drop-In with Screen Education Edinburgh @ Wester Hailes Library
For S1-S6 pupils Learn to use film-making equipment to create a drama, documentary or music video. Share stories and opinions and watch and discuss films at these Screen Education Edinburgh drop-ins.
Feb
26
Tue
10:30 am Let’s CrEATe @ WHALE Arts
Let’s CrEATe @ WHALE Arts
Feb 26 @ 10:30 am – 1:00 pm
Let's CrEATe @ WHALE Arts | Scotland | United Kingdom
Come and enjoy creative activities using food as a tool to create art. Enjoy art-themed lunch alongside making and creating.
1:00 pm Stitch ‘n’ Time @ WHALE Arts Centre
Stitch ‘n’ Time @ WHALE Arts Centre
Feb 26 @ 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
This sociable sewing and crafting class focuses on learning new skills and projects which help the local community. Come and share a cuppa!
Feb
27
Wed
11:30 am WHALE Poetry Group @ WHALE Arts Centre
WHALE Poetry Group @ WHALE Arts Centre
Feb 27 @ 11:30 am – 1:00 pm
WHALE Poetry Group @ WHALE Arts Centre | Scotland | United Kingdom
The Scottish Poetry Library and Open Book are currently running a residency in Wester Hailes. As part of this the WHALE poetry group will be running monthly sessions at WHALE Arts. Read, write and share[...]
1:00 pm Digital Sentinel Job Search and ... @ WHALE Arts Centre
Digital Sentinel Job Search and ... @ WHALE Arts Centre
Feb 27 @ 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Drop-in sessions offering support for job search websites and online benefit applications at Clovenstone Community Centre on Mondays (12-2pm) and at WHALE Arts on Wednesdays (1pm-3pm). Please note these drop-ins are not welfare advice sessions.
3:30 pm Lyceum Youth Theatre: Discover @ WHALE Arts Centre
Lyceum Youth Theatre: Discover @ WHALE Arts Centre
Feb 27 @ 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm
Lyceum Youth Theatre: Discover @ WHALE Arts Centre | Edinburgh | United Kingdom
Ages 10-14 Explore your dramatic skills with theatre professionals from the Lyceum Theatre.
Feb
28
Thu
10:30 am Digital Sentinel IT Hubs @ WHALE Arts Centre
Digital Sentinel IT Hubs @ WHALE Arts Centre
Feb 28 @ 10:30 am – 12:30 pm
Free IT drop-in sessions alternating between WHALE Arts Centre and Clovenstone Community Centre, starting at WHALE on 11 January. Learn basic IT skills and support your local news website, www.digitalsentinel.net.
10:30 am Expecting Something @ WHALE Arts Centre
Expecting Something @ WHALE Arts Centre
Feb 28 @ 10:30 am – 12:30 pm
For parents aged 25 and under who have babies up to 2 years old. Come along and meet other mums, babies and bumps, and try some fun artist-led creative activities! Free lunch provided.
12:30 pm Room For Art @ WHALE Arts Centre
Room For Art @ WHALE Arts Centre
Feb 28 @ 12:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Room For Art @ WHALE Arts Centre | Scotland | United Kingdom
Room For Art is a project run in partnership by Art in Healthcare, WHALE Arts and Wester Hailes Health Agency that offers free visual art workshops for health and well-being. Absolutely no previous experience of art necessary! The[...]
4:45 pm Street Arts @ WHALE Arts Centre
Street Arts @ WHALE Arts Centre
Feb 28 @ 4:45 pm – 7:00 pm
Ages 7-16 Come and find the Street Arts team out on the streets! Art, music, drama, dance, photography and more. Like our ‘Street Arts WHALE’ Facebook page to find out where we are and what[...]
6:30 pm Let’s Dance! @ WHALE Arts Centre
Let’s Dance! @ WHALE Arts Centre
Feb 28 @ 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Relaxed and fun ceilidh dancing with expert tuition for adults. No previous experience required!
Mar
1
Fri
10:00 am Mums into Business @ WHALE Arts
Mums into Business @ WHALE Arts
Mar 1 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
An art, craft and social group, for mums who are interested in setting up their own businesses. We try a range of traditional and modern crafts; explore aspects of setting up and developing a business,[...]
10:30 am NuStart @ WHALE Arts Centre
NuStart @ WHALE Arts Centre
Mar 1 @ 10:30 am – 1:30 pm
NuStart are an enthusiastic group of amateur artists who meet to enjoy each other’s company, create works of art, and critique paintings.
1:00 pm Foodness Community Meal @ WHALE Arts
Foodness Community Meal @ WHALE Arts
Mar 1 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Foodness Community Meal @ WHALE Arts | Scotland | United Kingdom
All welcome. FREE Come along for a delicious, healthy meal every Friday and spend time with people in your local community.
2:15 pm smARTies @ WHALE Arts Centre
smARTies @ WHALE Arts Centre
Mar 1 @ 2:15 pm – 4:00 pm
Ages 6-12 Come along & get creative at art club! Drop-in session but you need to register to take part.
View Calendar

WHALE Arts is …

... the cultural anchor organisation for Wester Hailes. We are a community-led arts charity and social enterprise, set up by local people in 1992. Our mission is to be the creative heart of a vibrant, thriving community.

WHALE Arts

30 Westburn Grove,
Edinburgh,
EH14 2SA
0131 458 3267
info@whalearts.co.uk

Latest News

Travelling Gallery Exhibition – ‘Displaced’

The Travelling Gallery will be returning to WHALE Arts on Friday 8th March, 10 – 4.30pm. The exhibition, Displaced, explores how artists and creative industries are responding to global migration. With ongoing international conflicts and the continued displacement of human beings we are questioning how we view, understand and represent refugees. Can artists give a […]

More News

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WHALE Arts Agency is a company limited by guarantee (SC180118) with charitable status (SC020305). Copyright © 2019