A celebration of community ownership

A HOST of special performances celebrated the transformational power of community ownership in Dumfries.

There were treats for the ears and the taste buds as Midsteeple Quarter marked Scotland’s Community Land Festival in their new event space at The Standard, on the High Street.

The festival highlighted the positive difference of community ownership delivering positive change for places.

Since 2018 Midsteeple Quarter has brought six previously empty High Street buildings into community ownership.

They are now used as residential flats, events, office and retail space.

Appearing at last Thursday’s event were Dumfries poet Joe McGurk; and young singers from Dumfries Music Collective - Alex Bailey, from Thornhill, and Ella Campbell, of Dalry.

Tim Cowen, Midsteeple Quarter’s executive director, said: “We were delighted to take part in the Community Land Festival, and be part of a Scotland wide network of communities who all recognise the importance and opportunities of communities coming together and taking control of local spaces and buildings.

Community Land Scotland festival organiser Meg Taintor added: “Community Land Festival is all about people – the communities who make it happen, and the wider public who get to join in and experience what they’ve achieved.”