Edinburgh Open Workshop is a ‘pay-as-you-go’ open access workshop offering workbenches, fabrication bays, machinery, hand tools, consumables, technical support, storage, studios, meeting and teaching spaces.  Edinburgh Open Workshop is a large-scale, open workshop space of 7,000 sq ft offering an open plan workshop divided into fabrication bays with access to large machinery, workbenches, hand tools, bays for cleaner work, enclosed studios, offices, meeting and teaching rooms.  

The list of facilities and equipment will grow and adapt to meet the needs of those that use the building. All profit made by the organisation will be reinvested in the organisation for; equipment maintenance and purchase, the creation of new creative workspaces; the adaption of existing creative workspaces and to research and develop the programme of tutorials, workshops and courses run for the Members and the public.

The purposes of Edinburgh Open Workshop are:

1.  To provide Makers, amateur and professional, with access to affordable, flexible workshop facilities giving them space to work across a number of creative disciplines with access to a wide variety of tools and resources, on bench size to large scale projects.  
2. To bring Makers across different disciplines together and facilitate creative collaboration.
3. To promote the sharing of skills among makers at all levels through a programme of workshops, courses, one on one learning and group sessions.

4.  To generate interest in creative disciplines and processes with the wider public.

The idea for Edinburgh Open Workshop is born of necessity.  Founding partner Big House Events Ltd found itself in a position where it had to move premises. The declining availability of workshop space in Edinburgh, rising costs and overheads are inhibiting the growth of the sector and limiting public exposure to these learning opportunities. Edinburgh Open Workshop will support the sector, engage the public and promote learning.

Edinburgh Open Workshop is a pay-as-you go open access workshop.  At the start, the building will open from 0900 – 1800 Monday to Friday.  Access out of hours can be arranged in advance.  We aim to have access to the facilities 24/7 within a year.

The building offers a flexible space with ground floor, step free, access to the working area via a yard, loading bay and a large roller shutter door.  Inside are clearly designated zones for woodwork, metal work, workbenches, hot works, textiles, ceramics and a shop for consumables.  Members can bring in their own hand tools, provided a valid electrical safety certificate can be produced.

Edinburgh Open Workshop is for those who want or need guidance in a given discipline and those who’ve outgrown their living room, kitchen or shed and/or need space to work on noisier, messier projects with wood, metal, polystyrene, concrete, and plastics across all disciplines.