Ettrick and Yarrow Community Development Company: Kirkhope Mill Open Day
Event at a glance:
Location: Scottish Borders
Date: 25 October 2025
Number of Staff & Volunteers: 7
Number of Attendees: 100
First-time participant? Yes
Bursary support received: Yes
What they said:
We held an open studio day at our business units called Kirkhope Mill to showcase the building and also the art and craft work of our tenants. We also used an empty space to hold an art exhibition with 2 local artists and provided tea/coffee and cake in the central meeting area. We had a fantastic response from both the local community and also interested people from further afield who had read about it in the Southern Reporter. Over 100 people came through the door during the 5 hours so there was quite a buzz in the building. There were lots of compliments on the building itself as many local people had watched it develop over the period but had not been inside. It was also a great social occasion as people met up with old friends and made new ones. There was a lot of chat over the coffee and cakes.
Outcomes and Community Feedback:
The numbers attending surprised and delighted us and made it a very social event. These events pull a community together and there are not that many locally that bring people in from all parts of the valleys and beyond.
Challenges:
Anticipating the numbers for catering and also bringing in tables and chairs from two different village halls as well as gathering up enough easels.