The Auld Toy Shop – People’s Art School Programme is a community-led cultural regeneration project based in a former toy shop in Ayr town centre. Operating for over 35 years from the 1980s, the building became vacant and derelict in 2014. It remains a much-loved part of Ayr, holding generations of memories and featuring beautiful architectural details.

In 2023, Narture CIC undertook an architectural feasibility study exploring how the building could become a People’s Art School and creative community hub. Despite significant development work, agreements and community interest, the building was sold before the original plans could progress.

The building is now under new ownership, and we are working with the owner to revive this vision. Through Creative Scotland’s Culture Collective programme, we have secured funding for a year-long programme of cultural activity, community engagement and creative consultation, exploring what local people want from the building and its future.

However, this funding does not cover the essential costs of making the space warm, welcoming and functional. We are seeking Coastal Communities Fund support towards activating the building, essential improvements, facilities and running costs, subject to funding eligibility.

What the project will deliver

Funding will help bring the building back into community use as an accessible, flexible space for workshops, exhibitions, community meals, creative learning, events and public conversations.

We will engage local residents through open consultations, workshops and creative activity, co-developing the space and programme alongside the people of Ayr. We also aim to provide affordable, flexible access for local creatives, community groups and organisations.

The project responds to challenges facing Ayr as a coastal town, including high street vacancy, economic decline, social isolation and limited accessible creative infrastructure.

Our community consultation identified strong demand for local creative opportunities. When asked, “Do you feel there are ample spaces nearby which can be accessed to freely express yourself and practise your creative skills?”, 95.7% of 94 respondents said no.

Feedback highlighted demand for printmaking, affordable studios, woodworking, DIY and practical making skills, shared workshop facilities and opportunities for social connection through creativity, food and learning.

Young creative people have also highlighted the lack of local opportunities and resources as a reason for leaving Ayr. The People’s Art School will help retain local talent, create paid opportunities for creatives to share their skills, and enable residents to build confidence, develop skills and connect without leaving their community.

Narture has experience delivering inclusive creative projects with partners including Recovery Ayr, National Galleries of Scotland and Glenfairn Care Home. Our work has explored creativity, wellbeing, lived experience and social connection, providing a strong foundation for this programme.

Community benefit and local priorities

The project will primarily benefit Ayr and wider South Ayrshire coastal communities, particularly young people, emerging creatives, families, unemployed or underemployed residents, and people facing barriers to cultural participation.

We will continue developing partnerships with Recovery Ayr, 360 Charity, The Place, Konekt, care homes and local support organisations to enable meaningful and appropriately supported participation.

The project supports South Ayrshire Council’s priorities:

Spaces & Places: Bringing a long-vacant town centre building back into community use and improving access to cultural and creative facilities.

Live, Work, Learn: Supporting skills development, creative pathways, local employment opportunities and opportunities to learn locally.

Civic & Community Pride: Creating a shared space shaped by local people, strengthening connection, belonging and pride in Ayr.

By returning this much-loved building to active use, the project will create a visible contribution to Ayr’s regeneration and provide lasting community value.

A challenge, especially since covid and cost of living crisis, is financial sustainability beyond the initial funding period. Narture operates a hybrid social enterprise model integrating food, hospitality and arts: baking real bread to earn the dough to fund arts projects.

Our longer-term ambition is to develop a larger, fit-for-purpose bakery within the front section of the proposed site at 25 Newmarket Street, with creative, cultural and social programming in the rear spaces. Increased bakery capacity, wholesale supply and retail activity could strengthen earned income, support local employment and provide a more stable foundation for community programming.

This integrated model allows food and culture to reinforce one another, supporting local spending, supply chains and community wealth building.

We will take a phased approach to building improvements, prioritising safety, accessibility and adaptable, energy-conscious solutions. Ongoing community consultation, open calls and partnerships will ensure the programme remains responsive to local needs.

We recognise the risks of rising costs, building condition, organisational capacity and reliance on external funding. These will be managed through realistic project planning, phased development, shared delivery responsibilities, diversified income and continued partnership development.

The project will establish a foundation for a long-term civic and creative resource, rather than a time-limited intervention.

Proposed project budget – £15,000

Budget item Amount Rent contribution £3,000 Utilities contribution £2,000 Basic internal renovation and decoration £1,000 Bakery space enabling works £1,000 Electrical safety and lighting improvements £1,000 Plumbing repairs and shared facilities £750 Heating and ventilation improvements £1,000 Toilet and accessibility improvements £750 Workshop furniture £750 Storage, shelving and display systems £750 Bakery equipment £750 Fire safety equipment and emergency signage £500 Shared creative workshop equipment and tools £1,000 Reusable workshop resources and materials £750 Total request £15,000