A meeting has been held by the main parties interested in finding a venue for The Ironworks in Inverness which was threatened with closure as there are proposals to build an hotel on the site.

Alex Smith, Project Management Executive at the XpoNorth festival, Caroline Campbell, Venue Director at The Ironworks, Stuart Black, Highland Council’s Executive Chief Officer, Iain Hamilton, HIE’s Head of Creative Industries, Stephanie Andrew, Head of Business Growth, James Martin, High Life Highland’s Head of Development and Labour MSP David Stewart.

The Ironwork’s director Caroline Campbell is very positive about the meeting which was led  by local MSP David Stewart, Labour, who has been very active in a campaign to save The Ironworks.

Caroline Campbell said:

“David Stewart MSP and senior members of HIE, High Life Highland, Highland Council and Creative Scotland, discussed finding a new home for our key live music business that plays a vital role in the cultural life of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland and I felt it was a fantastically positive meeting.

“David Stewart’s online petition was also discussed, and everyone took on board how important the venue is to the people of Inverness and to music-lovers across the wider Highlands and Islands and beyond.

“I can’t stress this enough when I say this building we are in right now is just a shell. Everything in it we own and is transferrable. I invested heavily in new equipment and that was done deliberately so it could be moveable. It’s business as usual for The Ironworks and details will be released as soon as we know where our new space will be.”

David Stewart who arranged the meeting said that he was “convinced there will be a permanent alternative home for The Ironworks”.

Highland Council is keen to see the music venue continue in Inverness town centre.

David Stewart is to have a meting with Fiona Hyslop Culture Secretary in the Scottish Government Fiona Hyslop on October 29th.

He said:

“This venue is vital to the region’s music scene and to its cultural values not to mention the boost it brings to the city’s night-time economy and in turn to Scotland’s culture secretary Fiona Hyslop’s commitment to increase music tourism.

“People who come from as far as Dundee to see bands play at The Ironworks have signed my online petition. It’s been an institution in Inverness for more than a decade, contributing in so many ways without the backing of any public funds and I think it is time the Scottish Government started to recognise the good work it is doing. But for me, one of the most positive things that came out of the meeting, is we know there are levers we might be able to pull on to secure it a new home.”

A follow-up meeting has been scheduled for Friday, November 8.