Author: Kirsty Geddes

We can’t quite believe it, bit it’s true!  The Stove Network is 10 years old. 

A decade ago, a bunch of like-minded folks got together with the spark of an idea that creativity could play a part the future of Dumfries town centre. This band of local creatives had shared, practical experience from working on projects that had helped bring vibrancy, confidence, and partnership working to other places around the country, they wanted to see what they could do for their hometown and ta’da, The Stove was born.

The key idea of The Stove was that its agenda should be driven by local people – first and foremost The Stove set out to be a place that was accessible to everyone, somewhere that listened and somewhere run by people who saw their role to facilitate and add value to the ideas people brought to The Stove.

This core belief of community, collaboration, and support, continues to this day. It is the people who have made The Stove what it is and allowed us to continue our mission – to help make Dumfries, and our region, a place where communities thrive and a place where everyone is supported to be involved creatively and take part in the celebration and making of our culture.

We’d like to thank everyone we’ve worked with, those who have supported, participated, challenged, and pushed us to create meaningful and memorable experiences, opportunities and pathways for learning, collaboration, expression, and development across the region and beyond.

“… to celebrate ten years of the Stove we’ll be sharing the stories of those who have come through our doors, sharing their favourite memories…”

We asked some of our members, partners, friends, and colleagues, to tell us what The Stove means to them, and what they’d like to see next:

Stove Member, Gary Hunter

Gary found the Stove a few years ago and has gently become part of the heartbeat of the place. You can usually find Gary in the café giving an optimistic and encouraging word to everyone, but also look out for him at Brave New Words – his guitar playing and singing will touch your spirit.

1. How did you first get involved with the Stove?

I became involved with The Stove through the cafe, the ‘downstairs’. By seeing different events advertised, organised by ‘upstairs’, I’ve attended figure drawing classes, contributed poetry for an exhibition and taken part in Brave New Words.

2. What is unique about the Stove?

What is special about The Stove, is the generosity. Despite the ups and downs of life, there is a spirit of kindness felt in the cafe exuded from the staff. What I see about ‘upstairs’ is the opportunity it is attempting to provide those wishing to express creativity. An extension of the generosity of the cafe. This is what makes The Stove unique, it is not driven by business enterprise but by creativity.

3. What’s your fondest memory of the Stove?

My fondest memory of The Stove is from the cafe. A young woman came in for a coffee but didn’t have enough money to pay for it. She looked like she’d been sleeping rough and was about to leave, when the member of staff serving her reassured her and said the coffee was free. I’ll never forget her expression and gratitude as she left. Apparently, this is something done by other places, but I’ve only seen it done in The Stove.

4. What have you done with the Stove that you’re most proud of?

I’m not beating my own drum here, but what I’m most proud of is the first time I performed at Brave New Words, a couple of years ago. It was nauseating, exciting and extremely terrifying but I managed to do it without any hiccups.

5. To someone who’s never heard of the Stove, how do you describe it?

I could say it is a bastion of opportunity, positivity and creativity, an expression of free thinking and identity, but I would say, The Stove is something you have to see for yourself.

6. What would you like to see in the next 10 years?

I would like to see more events organised for the over-thirties. It is right that an emphasis is placed on helping the younger generation and The Stove has done that, but in time they too will become the older generation, and will form, like the rest of us, the majority of the local community. I think The Stove should ‘level the playing field’ so to speak and extend the good work they’re doing for young people to include the rest of us.

7. What’s the biggest change that’s happened over the last 10 years from your point of view?

Growth. The Stove has proliferated from the time of its conception to become more than a hub for artistic folk. The Mid Steeple Quarter is a recent reflection of this and highlights The Stove’s investment in the local community.

8. If there’s one word that sums up the Stove to you, what is it?

Positivity.

9. If the Stove were a drink/food/object or colour, what would it be?

A tall, chilled glass of lemonade on a hot summer’s day.

10. What’s the first thing you think of when you think of the Stove?

Fun.

Director of LIFT D&G, Angie Gilmour

Angela is the ‘Queen of Lochside’ some years back she decided she had had enough of her area being cried a place of deprivation and formed Lochside is Families Together (LIFT) and the rest is history! She was employed by The Stove for three years as our Community Engagement Worker for the Creative Futures project in NW Dumfries and continues to work in partnership with The Stove – currently with our What We Do Now project.

1. How did you first get involved with the Stove?

I first got involved with the stove when I went for a job interview in 2017.

2. What is unique about the Stove?

The unique thing about the stove is how once you start getting to be involved it is like an extended family. 

3. What’s your fondest memory of the Stove?

My fondest memory, apart from doing events and seeing them all come together and thinking, “We did that!” are the friendships I have made through the stove, there is some awesome folk there. 

4. What have you done with the Stove that you’re most proud of?

I have been proud of every event and project we have done with The Stove as we’ve been able to give people opportunities that might not have been open to them before. 

5. To someone who’s never heard of the Stove, how do you describe it?

The stove is a forward thinking, amazing place, that opens your mind to different cultures. 

6. What would you like to see in the next 10 years?

Mini stoves pop up everywhere. 

7. What’s the biggest change that’s happened over the last 10 years from your point of view?

I had no idea they did so much. 

8. If there’s one word that sums up the Stove to you, what is it?

Openness 

9. If the Stove were a drink/food/object or colour, what would it be?

Orange 

10. What’s the first thing you think of when you think of the Stove?

Opportunities

Fan and Occasional Teammate, Steph Phillips

Steph is one of the stars of Brave New Words, a talented and fearless singer-songwriter, they always have the right song for the occasion! Of late, Steph has been doing shifts in the cafe and is very much part of the Stove family.

1. How did you first get involved with the Stove?

I first became involved with the Stove in 2017 after I moved to Dumfries for uni. I wasn’t sure if there was much going on in the town, but one evening I stumbled upon Brave New Words and it changed everything! After that I made an effort to attend Stove events and meet new folk, which helped build my confidence and get to know the town.

2. What is unique about the Stove?

There is nowhere quite like the Stove! It is unique in its welcoming community atmosphere and the range of creative opportunities it offers. The cafe is a lovely safe space for all, and in the evenings, it often turns into a venue for all kinds of wonderful events and workshops.

3. What’s your fondest memory of the Stove?

My fondest memory of the Stove is from April 2019 when I attended my first Plaza event (at the Rowing Club). Although I knew a few Stove folk’s faces I hadn’t yet been brave enough to introduce myself properly. I went to the gig on my own and was awkwardly hovering near the back when Pam (who I recognised from the cafe team) approached and invited me to join her and a few others. It was a lovely venue with great live performances and getting to meet the lovely folk behind the event was an added bonus! After that I made more of an effort to be brave and introduce myself to the team, gradually getting to know them at different events (and at the pub!). All in all, it was the start of many new friendships which changed my perception of Dumfries and shaped who I am today.

4. What have you done with the Stove that you’re most proud of?

The Stove has helped me to become a more confident individual and face my stage-fright by performing at a couple of BNW open mics. I still get scared and can’t always perform, but I’m proud of the progress I’ve made since finding the Stove.

5. To someone who’s never heard of the Stove, how do you describe it?

To someone who has never heard of the Stove, I would describe it as a safe space for every individual from every background, which welcomes and encourages creativity and learning new skills.

6. What would you like to see in the next 10 years?

In the next 10 years I would like to see more of the same! The Stove has created a wonderful community which is working hard to improve the opportunities within Dumfries and develop the town centre into somewhere enjoyable for locals and visitors alike.

7. What’s the biggest change that’s happened over the last 10 years from your point of view?

I’m not sure what I would say the biggest change in the last 10 years has been. Perhaps the change in other people’s perceptions of the town, and what The Stove and other projects have to offer in the way of community development, has been the most noticeable.

8. If there’s one word that sums up the Stove to you, what is it?

One word to describe the Stove – ‘collaboration’.

9. If the Stove were a drink/food/object or colour, what would it be?

I see the Stove as a brightly coloured microphone, giving the town and its individuals a voice and a platform to express themselves.

10. What’s the first thing you think of when you think of the Stove?

I think of a warm smile and people I can rely on, as well as opportunities I wouldn’t otherwise have access to.

Community Artist, Kirsty Turpie

Kirsty is just about the best advert you’ll ever meet for the power of art and creativity – a true community artist who brings positive energy to every situation. She has been part of just about everything you can do at The Stove… Blueprint 100, Creative Futures, Brave New Words, Nithraid… she has been at the heart of all of them at some time! She is currently working for DG Council in Youth Services.

1. How did you first get involved with the Stove?

In 2015 when I returned to living in the area, the Stove were involved in running the Environmental Arts Festival. I volunteered at the festival, met many of the stovies and heard about the exciting creative events that they were running. I then began attending events at the Stove regularly especially enjoying Tuesday night Blueprint 100 workshops (now Creative Spaces) and Reel to Real film nights. I was given the opportunity to exhibit a selection of drawings for the opening of the Stove Cafe and run a creative workshop at Blueprint 100 which gave me a great deal of encouragement with my creative practise.

2. What is unique about the Stove?

There is such a welcoming and friendly atmosphere at all the events and on a day-to-day basis in the cafe. They’re approach is holistic and organic to the needs of the community. They support and connect artists of all different ages and specialisms which has created an exciting and thriving creative community in the region and beyond.

3. What’s your fondest memory of the Stove?

It’s very hard to choose one. I have so many wonderful memories of Brave New Words Open Mic Night as it has been where I’ve formed many friendships. It makes me so happy when I see a friend getting up and sharing music and poetry at Brave New Words and being supported and welcomed by the community. I’ve also loved attending and being part of Nithraid over the years as it provides a full day celebration of our town and its creative talent.

4. What have you done with the Stove that you’re most proud of?

Working with the Creative Futures team for 2 and a half years and running many exciting community events and public art projects in Lochside and Lincluden.

5. To someone who’s never heard of the Stove, how do you describe it?

A community arts centre that has something for everyone.

6. What would you like to see in the next 10 years?

The Midsteeple Quarter buildings being used well and helping the creative scene in D&G to flourish even more.

7. What’s the biggest change that’s happened over the last 10 years from your point of view?

The growth of the stove team and number of spaces.

8. If there’s one word that sums up the Stove to you, what is it?

Incredible

9. If the Stove were a drink/food/object or colour, what would it be?

Gold

10. What’s the first thing you think of when you think of the Stove?

Belonging

John Wallace

John has worn the Stovie bunnet from the earliest days. It’s rare to see a photo of John as he is usually behind the camera and has made some of the finest Stove movies, including A House on The High Street that played such a formative role in starting Midsteeple Quarter. John styles himself an ‘Insider Artist’ and has built a national reputation as a video installation artists from his beloved Eaglesfield.

1. How did you first get involved with the Stove?

First Foot! Three months of art-planning mayhem culminating in two nights of art mayhem

on the High Street back in January 2012.

2. What is unique about the Stove?

Its general sense of purpose and industry around the idea of better places to live and be. It’s

not just art for art’s sake.

3. What’s your fondest memory of the Stove?

Too many. And I’m still forming them – thanks for that The Stove!

4. What have you done with the Stove that you’re most proud of?

Not into being proud of things, but it’s always a pleasure to see the public – new folk –

getting involved and getting a kick out of art-led projects around the town centre where it

all began. Plus, I love seeing the facade change the way it speaks to the street and the

people there – always a joy to play any part in that. It’s a great Stove tradition that continues

with all the superb signwriting.

5. To someone who’s never heard of the Stove, how do you describe it?

A nexus. A powerhouse.

6. What would you like to see in the next 10 years?

That it continues sic – punkin’ the jubilee

7. What’s the biggest change that’s happened over the last 10 years from your point of view?

Getting the building sorted out. Fifty years of retail knock-throughs and modernisations

hadn’t left a very practical space either for the number of people or the range of uses that

100 High Street now regularly supports.

8. If there’s one word that sums up the Stove to you, what is it?

Hame.

9. If the Stove were a drink/food/object or colour, what would it be?

Well, mine’s a cortado with one sugar if you’re anywhere near the café, ta.

10. What’s the first thing you think of when you think of the Stove?

Did I lock that door?

Alec Wallace

Alec is the son of John and Betty Wallace and has been an ever-present at Stovie events, always keeping us right and asking the best questions. How will D+G feel different to those who have grown up with The Stove we wonder?

1. How did you first get involved with the Stove?

The first time I was involved with the stove was the opening of the stove cafe.

2. What is unique about the Stove?

Anyone can become involved, and it is welcoming and engaging.

3. What’s your fondest memory of the Stove?

My fondest memory of the Stove was Parking Space, at the NCP.

4. What have you done with the Stove that you’re most proud of?

I have helped with lots of different projects, and enjoyed being part of a team, and so I am proud of all the projects I have helped work on.

5. To someone who’s never heard of the Stove, how do you describe it?

I would describe the stove as: A place and a community that do creative things together to make Dumfries a better place.

6. What would you like to see in the next 10 years?

To see it continue with a larger community.

7. What’s the biggest change that’s happened over the last 10 years from your point of view?

The fact that the people of Dumfries own big chunks of the high street.

8. If there’s one word that sums up the Stove to you, what is it?

People.

9. If the Stove were a drink/food/object or colour, what would it be?

A fried egg – sunny and nutritious

10. What’s the first thing you think of when you think of the Stove?

Cake

Linda Mallett

One of the founding members of The Stove, Linda has been at the forefront of just about every new development in the arts in the region for as long as anyone can remember… a true radical spirit and who is the local benchmark for integrity and commitment to her art.

1. How did you first get involved with the Stove?

When D&G Council said they were going to cut all funding for the arts, back around 2010(?) quite a few of us thought that was not a great idea and got together to discuss strategies. My memory of the particulars has faded, but somehow out of all that, a small group of us got together to discuss the idea of taking over a three-story shop building in the centre of Dumfries, as a base for arts and community projects.

2. What is unique about the Stove?

That it started out as a collective project of active, professional artists in the public arts field, working together in a non-hierarchical way to develop strategies, raise funding and initiate community projects. It has obviously become more structured (and better paid) over the years, but it still has the truly collective ethos.

3. What’s your fondest memory of the Stove? 

I think it has to be the early days and months of all working together to create something new that none of us could quite foresee, with very few resources and a lot of trust. Can I really say that unpaid all-day meetings fuelled by coffee & sandwiches, followed by winding down in the pub are fond memories? Well yes, they are!

4. What have you done with the Stove that you’re most proud of?

So many… I’ll pick the first ever Nithraid event. This initially came from the idea of wanting to celebrate the River Nith and reclaim it as a true centre of Dumfries rather than just a carpark and bus-station that floods regularly. We put out an open call for anyone interested in discussing ideas for the project to come for a meeting. From that developed the idea of a boat race from the coast to the centre of Dumfries, to ‘reclaim’ it as the flourishing port and market it once was, and to commission various associated arts projects and events for the day. On the day – 21^st September 2012 – I was rushing around from project to project, checking out all was going to plan, that the tide was rising as it should, that people were where they were supposed to be… At some point, crossing the Devorgilla Bridge, I paused, and looked out down the river. A couple of thousand people were lining the banks, waiting for the boats to arrive. Wow, I thought – they are all here because of us!

More generally, I am proud of how The Stove has provided opportunities and inspiration for younger artists to move to/back to Dumfries & Galloway and be part of a dynamic and innovative practice. To show that ‘new’ doesn’t just happen in cities.

And I am also proud of how we managed to work co-operatively with the local authorities to develop ideas that were new to all of us, recognising on both sides that we needed to look at new ways of bridging our previous divide.

5. To someone who’s never heard of the Stove, how do you describe it? 

Rather lamely, I tend to cop out and give them a link to the website! And recommend the great café.

6. What would you like to see in the next 10 years? 

A continuation of more projects moving outwards to cover a wider area than central Dumfries

7. What’s the biggest change that’s happened over the last 10 years from your point of view?

Probably the sideways move from the stage of largely unfunded collective responsibility from all for everything, to more specialised areas and accountabilities – “proper jobs”.

8. If there’s one word that sums up the Stove to you, what is it?

Unique?

9. If the Stove were a drink/food/object or colour, what would it be?

A delicious pot-luck meal of Greek mezze or Spanish tapas. But Scottish.

10. What’s the first thing you think of when you think of the Stove?

The difficulty of pinning down what the Stove is?

Chairman of the Board, Tony Fitzpatrick

Tony has been the Chair of our board now for 4 years, his has been a steady hand on the tiller whilst urging us on to push harder and further into uncharted territory. Tony has a past as the Director of Economic Development for DG Council and has a present as a rock and roller with local band Heart of Rust. Everyone at The Stove owes him the deepest debt of gratitude for his commitment and limitless enthusiasm… thank you Tony!

1. How did you first get involved with the Stove?

Basically, it was the café that drew me in initially. I was aware of the emerging artists collective through my work with the Council and involvement in the funding bid that purchased both the Stove and Oven buildings with Scottish Government grant.

2. What is unique about the Stove?

For me the unique thing was that it was the first project in Dumfries to link creative endeavour to community and economic development actions on the ground. Other projects had evolved in more rural settlements but The Stove had a much needed ‘urban cool’ feel to it….quite unique!

3. What’s your fondest memory of the Stove? 

My first visit to the café and sitting for a spell and realising “….something different is happening here…is this Dumfries’s ‘Glad Café”? (a project in Glasgow that was now renowned for its creative programme as well as café).

4. What have you done with the Stove that you’re most proud of?

I took up a Board position several years ago and I have felt so proud to simply be part of the whole process, see the team evolve and develop and put Dumfries on the map locally, regionally and nationally. The Stove has achieved things that would take the usual agencies decades to achieve and built a support-base that the public sector always struggles to do. We have however had tremendous support from the key agencies, again due to the skills of the team.

5. To someone who’s never heard of the Stove, how do you describe it? 

“An artist’s collective that is making the world a better place through positive activism, disruption and conversation”.

6. What would you like to see in the next 10 years? 

A transformed town and region where people are empowered and creatively engaged through the Stove (and projects like it) and where our cultural, natural, and creative assets are recognised globally as our unique selling point.

7. What’s the biggest change that’s happened over the last 10 years from your point of view?

Projects like the Stove being recognised and respected for the innovation and drive they bring for doing things differently and making a real difference to the community. The Stove, to my mind, has brought that ‘cool’ factor that until now has really been the preserve of the city. Our young creatives are, as a consequence, returning or staying in small but significant numbers. Covid is causing many to view the ‘city lights’ as not quite the draw they were as new living , working, environmental, safety and quality of life factors come more to the fore. We have a job here….for life…and much to do!

8. If there’s one word that sums up the Stove to you, what is it?

‘Cool’

9. If the Stove were a drink/food/object or colour, what would it be?

It would be a small fleet of pastel and prime coloured Lambretta scooters with tartan seat covers parked outside a cool cafe waiting for Stovies to jump on and deliver work and joy to the town and beyond!

10. What’s the first thing you think of when you think of the Stove?

Smiling!….and Matt and his hat poised at a jaunty angle…!!

Joe McGurk

Writer, Joe McGurk tells us what attracted him to become a member of The Stove and what he hopes for the future: