A charity providing art studios wins top award

A charity that provides workspace to artists across the country has been named as Social Enterprise of the Year.

Wasps Studios won the award at a special lunch hosted by Social Enterprise Scotland in Edinburgh this week.

Based in Glasgow, Wasps has a total of 17 centres in rural and urban areas all over Scotland including Shetland, Kirkcudbright, Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Nairn, Newburgh and Selkirk.

It plays a hugely valuable role in the arts sector by providing high-quality and affordable workspace to creative people of all kinds.

Chief executive David Cook said he was thrilled to win the award, especially as it comes from other social enterprises.

“We are honoured to be representing Scotland’s diverse social enterprise sector in the UK awards next month, but mostly we’re really chuffed,” he said.

Another important aspect of Wasps’ work is that it buys and redevelops historic, forgotten buildings and turns them into beautiful arts facilities.

So far it has raised £21 million to improve workspaces for artists and now owns two thirds of its property portfolio, securing high quality workspaces for future generations of artists.

Fraser Kelly, chief executive of Social Enterprise Scotland, said: “Yet again a simply outstanding collection of social enterprise activity impressed the judging panel and resulted in worthy winners in all categories.

“Congratulations to all of the 2014 applicants who are, with imagination, creativity and dogged determination, showing the breadth, depth and reach of social enterprise in Scotland.”