News Story
We are delighted that Edinburgh’s first purpose-built music and performance venue for over 100 years has received planning approval by the Development Management Sub Committee of City of Edinburgh Council.
The venue, to be known as the Dunard Centre, will be a principal venue for the Edinburgh International Festival and will also be the new home of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.
Welcoming the decision, Sir Ewan Brown, Chairman of IMPACT Scotland said:
“Today’s decision is tremendous news for the City and turns the ambition for a world-class centre for music and performance, into a reality.
“I am particularly pleased to announce today that the official name of the venue will be Dunard Centre supported by Royal Bank of Scotland, this is in recognition of the huge contribution Carol Grigor has made to this project through the charitable trust Dunard Fund.
“We now have the opportunity to create an exciting new venue for everyone, in a building to be proud of.”
Speaking during the committee hearing, architect Sir David Chipperfield said:
“This will be a public building that relates to Edinburgh on a civic scale by both fitting in and standing out in order to perform an important social and cultural role in a city with strong established cultural traditions.”
Edinburgh International Festival Director Fergus Linehan said:
“The IMPACT Centre is a once in a generation opportunity to help secure Edinburgh’s reputation as one of the world’s great creative and cultural capitals. Its state of the art facilities, world-class design and exceptional acoustics will provide an outstanding environment for musicians of all kinds to perform to the widest possible community. Artistically and socially, it is a truly transformational project for the Festival.”