Carrying on Hugo's dream of creating a "Home for Makers and Creators," Marchmont Makers Foundation's Creative Spaces initiative — artist studios, residency retreat spaces and performance venues — is about celebrating, exploring, and being inspired by creativity. The Creative Spaces and Foundation are run separately from the House, but they are located nearby on the Estate.
The goal of the Foundation is to support creativity in the arts, in craft, in purpose driven business and in social enterprise, not just across the Estate but within the local community and beyond.
Creative Spaces can be let on a long or short-term basis, with or without accommodation. Additionally, part or fully funded residencies are available to artists, through the Marchmont Makers Foundation.
The complete renovation of the derelict buildings around the former stable block at Marchmont was the catalyst for our Creative Spaces initiative. They hold two ‘Open Studio’ Events each year, welcoming the local and wider communities to the spaces to showcase the outstanding work created by their resident and visiting artists.
Set around the elegant stables courtyard there are four studios adjacent to The Marchmont Workshop, each let on a long-term basis; the Upper and Lower Powerhouse are currently home to Gary Anderson and the North and South Stable where Michelle de Bruin Josephine Crossland and Richard Goldsworthy are based. Together, with The Tower and The Old Squash Court they make up Marchmont Studios.
Sam Cooper and Richard Platt represent the sixth-generation of rush-seat chairmaking in a direct lineage going back over 100 years to Philip Clissett and Ernest Gimson at the Art Workers Guild, having themselves been apprenticed to Lawrence Neal.
This fabulous building was originally the garage for the House, designed by Sir Robert Lorimer and built in 1917. It perfectly combines Arts & Crafts sensibility with the ‘modern’ building technology of the era.
Formerly the print studio of the artist, musician, and broadcaster Rory McEwen who was born and brought up at Marchmont. He worked here from 1970 to 1975 and lived nearby in Fogo.
In reclaiming Studio Cottage as a place for artists we are celebrating Rory’s spirit and DNA as a symbol of both the McEwen Family and Marchmont itself.
The cottage is self-contained. As well as a large open-plan studio combining a kitchen and dining area, there is a double bedroom, a small bathroom and a snug sitting room. Ideal for wandering musicians, artists and writers to take a retreat in this quiet village just 3 miles from Marchmont Studios.
The space is available for private rentals/residencies. If you're interested, please contact lucy@marchmontmakers.org.
Run by Nicholas Stenhouse and Heather Wilson, Redbraes is a production pottery studio and creative clay space. Based in a former disused garage in the nearby town of Greenlaw, Redbraes is the latest in a series of ‘Creative Spaces’ being developed to provide affordable studios and workshops for makers and creators.
To complement our long-term studios, we’ve kept two spaces for short-term lets and residencies, The Old Squash Court and The Tower. Both are available to rent privately or applicants may apply for a funded Residency.
The Foundation encourages long term residents and visiting artists to engage with and explore the range of practices in their Studio community. Their residency programme encourages learning and shared ways of working between creative practicioners. The Foundation also hosts regular Artist Dinners, inviting local artists to join them and share their ways of working.
To support the community, there is a very special multi-purpose space with open-plan kitchen, to enable artists to meet and to hold small events. Even the furnishings celebrate the work of local artists; a hayrake table with a matching set of Gimson ladderback chairs made by The Marchmont Workshop join sculptures by Clementine Drake, Lawrence Dicks and Thomas Hawson.
To enquire about booking this space, or any other enquiries regarding the Creative Spaces at Marchmont, please contact the Foundation.
Perhaps our grandest ‘Creative Space’, this magnificent Arts & Crafts oak-panelled ‘gem’ was designed by Sir Robert Lorimer. The finest room at Marchmont replete with its newly restored pipe organ, it can host an audience of up to 150 people in a number of configurations.
A wonderful space to listen to music, to host talks, or hold events celebrating creativity and be inspired by the sheer beauty of the room.
Barely a half-mile from Marchmont, the now deconsecrated Kirk had been a place of worship since the 6th century. The present building was built in 1703 by Sir Patrick Hume — 1st Earl Marchmont.
For artists in residence we have two new cosy ‘hobbit pods’ that you can stay in. They're both opposite the Creative Spaces studios and have wonderful views of the Cheviot Hills.
Please for further information.
Tap the image above to see more of the Hobbit Pods.
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