Edinburgh Open Workshop - Doors Open Day

Discover creativity on your doorstep as Edinburgh Open Workshop invites you to step inside for Doors Open Day.

Edinburgh Open Workshop is delighted to be taking part in Doors Open Day once again. Marking its 35th anniversary this city-wide festival grants the public special access to some of the most interesting and creative spaces in our community. 

During Doors Open Day members of the public will have the unique opportunity to explore the EOW building where they can check out the fully-equipped artist studios and workshops have a go at making their own creations meet the resident makers and enjoy an exhibition showcasing their work. Examples will include furniture design textiles and upholstery all created at EOW and available to buy or commission directly from the makers. 

Free 30-minute tours leave from reception every hour from 11am to 3pm and will include visits to the facility’s woodwork metalwork textile and screen printing areas as well as a new 9m x 18m exhibition and community space. With access to a private eight seat meeting room kitchen facilities a dance floor and presentation equipment this area is now available to hire for meetings rehearsals and other community activities.

Adults and children (aged 13+) can try using some of the specialist tools and equipment with a choice of supervised workshops on the day. These include woodwork and welding tasters where participants create an architecturally-inspired wooden candle base engrave a metal key chain or weld a door nameplate to take away with them. Each session lasts between 60 and 90 minutes and costs £25 per person. Please book in advance through the website - www.edinburghopenworkshop.co.uk. 

Natasha Lee-Walsh director of EOW said: “ EOW is delighted to be taking part in Doors Open Day for the fourth time. This is the only free festival to celebrate buildings and their stories. It gives us a great opportunity to invite the public in and showcase all the amazing work that takes place here. Our talented resident makers will be on hand to present and talk about their work and hopefully inspire some new makers to take part in our workshops on the day.”

Workshops: 

Woodwork Taster:- Create your own architecturally inspired candle holders while learning essential woodworking techniques. You’ll gain confidence using tools like a handsaw pillar drill and sander - giving you the skills to recreate your project again at home. Suitable for ages 13+ with a guardian and 18+ solo.

Welding Taster: - choose between a metal key chain with your name welded on or a metal nameplate for your door. Each workshop lasts 1.5 hours and costs £25. This class covers cutting metal drilling into the steel and welding text onto steel. Suitable for 16+ with a guardian and 18+ solo.

Both workshops are available to book at www.edinburghopenworkshop.co.uk/news under Latest Events or you can call us on 0131 555 6866 or email [email protected]. 

Doors Open Day:

Doors Open Day is Scotland’s largest free festival that celebrates heritage and the built environment. It offers free access to over a thousand venues across the country each September. For a full list of venues and further information go to www.doorsopendays.org.uk. 

Host or Publisher Edinburgh Open Workshop