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Scotsman
24-06-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Edinburgh's new concert hall handed million dollar grant by Andrew Carnegie foundation
Edinburgh's first purpose-built new concert hall for more than a century is to benefit from the fortune left by Scottish industrialist Andrew Carnegie. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... His philanthropic foundation Carnegie Corporation of New York has made a $1 million grant - £735,000 - towards the Dunard Centre, which is set to be built on the recently cleared site behind the historic Royal Bank of Scotland building in St Andrew Square. The news comes as a new report projects the 1,000-seater venue will generate £170 million in gross value added in first 20 years and boost tourism spending by £8.6m each year. Work is due to start this summer and the new venue is expected to open in 2029. The Dunard Centre will be a 1,000-seat concert hall complete with a multi-purpose space, café and bar. | David Chipperfield Architects, Reiach and Hall Architects Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Dunard Centre - expected to cost at least £115 million - will provide a permanent home for the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and a new venue for the Edinburgh International Festival. The Carnegie foundation, which is led by Dame Louise Richardson, former principal and vice-chancellor of St Andrews University, was established by Andrew Carnegie in 1911, to manage the bulk of his philanthropic giving. He wanted it to 'promote the advancement and diffusion of knowledge and understanding'. It is backed by an endowment valued at around $4.5 billion and between 2023 and 2024, it awarded grants totalling $174 million. The Dunard Centre, expected to open in 2029, will become the permanent home for the Scottish Chamber Orchestra | supplied Jo Buckley, chief executive of the Dunard Centre, said: 'We are hugely grateful for this grant, which recognises both the global significance of the Dunard Centre and the role it will play in enriching the lives of local people, by giving them greater access to the arts. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'The money will help us develop and advance our engagement strategy, which is a vital element of our mission to create a 'Hall for All' here in Edinburgh. 'With a focus on supporting civic participation and socioeconomic mobility, we intend to build trusted relationships, design thoughtful creative engagement programmes, and establish the team that will bring this work to life when we open our doors in 2029. 'We look forward to the opportunity of exploring and sharing the parallels between the transformational philanthropy of Andrew Carnegie – and the mark this left upon the world –and the various ways civic society benefits from the provision of outstanding performance and lifelong engagement with music.' The centre is named after the Dunard Fund, an arts charity established by philanthropist Carol Colburn Grigor, which has contributed £35m toward the project. In total, the new concert hall has attracted record private donations of £80m. And it is backed by £25 million of public investment through Edinburgh's City Region Deal.
The Herald Scotland
23-06-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Carnegie fortune to help pay for new Edinburgh concert hall
The grant from the Carnegie Corporation of New York was announced as it was predicted that the 1000-seater venue, which is expected to cost at least £115 million to create, will generate £170m for the economy in its first 20 years. Read more: The venue, which is expected create more than 300 jobs, is already being ked to the tune at at least £35 million by the Dunard Fund, a charity set up by American philanthropist Carol Colburn Grigor. The new backing has been confirmed weeks after Ms Grigor, one of the biggest private financial backers of Scottish culture in modern times, was awarded the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy. Previous winners of the honour, which is award on behalf of Carnegie trusts and foundations around the world, including Dolly Parton, Michael Bloomberg, Bill Gates and the Scottish businessman Sir Tom Hunter. Born in Dunfermline in 1835, Andrew Carnegie emigrated to Pennsylvania with his family at the age of 12, built a multi-million dollar business empire in the steel industry and was one of the world's richest men by the end of the century. However he famously gave away most of his fortune via trusts and institutions set up in his name, including the Carnegie Corporation of New York, which he established in 1911 and is now led by a former principal of St Andrews University, Louise Richardson. The Dunard Centre, which has attracted more than £80 million in private donations to date, is also being supported by the Scottish and UK governments, and Edinburgh City Council, who are contributing £25m in total. Dunard Centre chief executive Jo Buckley said: 'We are hugely grateful for this grant, which recognises both the global significance of the Dunard Centre and the role it will play in enriching the lives of local people, by giving them greater access to the arts. "The money will help us develop and advance our engagement strategy, which is a vital element of our mission to create a 'hall for all' here in Edinburgh. 'With a focus on supporting civic participation and socioeconomic mobility, we intend to build trusted relationships, design thoughtful creative engagement programmes, and establish the team that will bring this work to life when we open our doors in 2029. 'We look forward to the opportunity of exploring and sharing the parallels between the transformational philanthropy of Andrew Carnegie – and the mark this left upon the world – and the various ways civic society benefits from the provision of outstanding performance and lifelong engagement with music.'
Edinburgh Reporter
23-06-2025
- Business
- Edinburgh Reporter
Carnegie funding for the new concert hall announced
A grant of $1 million has been awarded to the new concert hall to be constructed behind The Royal Bank of Scotland building at 36 St Andrew Square from the Carnegie Corporation of New York. The philanthropic body has offered the funds towards the 'design and programming of the Dunard Centre Concert Hall'. The concert hall will be the first purpose built facility of its kind for more than a century, and construction of the David Chipperfield design is expected to begin later this year. The Carnegie foundation is led by Dame Louise Richardson, former vice-chancellor of the University of Oxford and former principal and vice-chancellor of the University of St Andrews. The organisation was established by the Scottish industrialist Andrew Carnegie in 1911, to manage the bulk of his philanthropic giving. Between 2023 and 2024, it awarded grants totalling $174 million and it is backed by an endowment valued at around $4.5 billion. The funding boost comes as the Dunard Centre reveals the findings of new economic and social impact assessments. The Centre's operations are projected to generate £169.4 million in gross value added (GVA) over its first 20 years, supporting nearly 300 jobs in the process. Based on an estimated 200,000 visitors annually, the hall is projected to increase tourism spending in Edinburgh and the surrounding region by £8.6m a year. The Dunard Centre may be renamed as philanthropist Carol Grigor who is behind the Dunard Fund has stated that the name will not continue. Ms Grigor has provided £35 million towards the building. The Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal allocated £35 million to the project and public donations of around £80 million (which includes Ms Grigor's donation) will pay for the state of the art hall. Jo Buckley, chief executive of the Dunard Centre, said: 'We are hugely grateful for this grant, which recognises both the global significance of the Dunard Centre and the role it will play in enriching the lives of local people, by giving them greater access to the arts. The money will help us develop and advance our engagement strategy, which is a vital element of our mission to create a 'Hall for All' here in Edinburgh. 'With a focus on supporting civic participation and socioeconomic mobility, we intend to build trusted relationships, design thoughtful creative engagement programmes, and establish the team that will bring this work to life when we open our doors in 2029. 'We look forward to the opportunity of exploring and sharing the parallels between the transformational philanthropy of Andrew Carnegie – and the mark this left upon the world –and the various ways civic society benefits from the provision of outstanding performance and lifelong engagement with music.' Located in the heart of Edinburgh's New Town, the Dunard Centre will serve as the permanent home of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, and a new venue for the Edinburgh International Festival. The Dunard Centre will open up a city centre site, previously closed to the public, into a new piece of public realm, creating a vibrant and inclusive creative hub. This central site has been strategically selected to maximise accessibility and connectivity. Situated within walking distance of Waverley Station and multiple tram and bus routes, the venue is ideally positioned to serve both local audiences and visitors from across Scotland and beyond. Its proximity to restaurants, hotels, and cultural landmarks further enhances its role as a key driver of economic and cultural activity in the city. CEO Jo Buckley Like this: Like Related
Scotsman
23-06-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
The $1m funding boost for Edinburgh concert hall Dunard Centre from Andrew Carnegie's fortune
Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... A $1 million donation from the fortune of Scottish industrialist Andrew Carnegie has been given to a new concert hall being built in Edinburgh city centre. The philanthropic foundation Carnegie Corporation of New York has made a $1 million (£747,000) grant towards the 'design and programming' of the Dunard Centre, which is being built on the recently cleared site behind the historic RBS branch building on St Andrew Square. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Dunard Centre will be a 1,000-seat concert hall complete with a multi-purpose space, café and bar connected to the a-listed Dundas House, in Edinburgh's New Town | David Chipperfield Architects, Reiach and Hall Architects This comes as a new report projects the venue will generate £170 million in gross value added (GVA) in the first 20 years, based on an estimated 200,000 visitors a year, and boost tourism spending by £8.6m each year, supporting nearly 300 jobs. Work is due to start this summer on what will be the first major new city centre concert venue for Edinburgh in more than a century when it opens in 2029. The Carnegie foundation is led by Dame Louise Richardson, former principal and vice-chancellor of the University of St Andrews. The organisation was established by the Scottish industrialist Andrew Carnegie in 1911, to manage the bulk of his philanthropic giving. When it opens, the centre will provide a permanent home for the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and a new venue for the Edinburgh International Festival. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Dunard Centre construction site | TSPL Jo Buckley, chief executive of the Dunard Centre, said: 'We are hugely grateful for this grant, which recognises both the global significance of the Dunard Centre and the role it will play in enriching the lives of local people, by giving them greater access to the arts. The money will help us develop and advance our engagement strategy, which is a vital element of our mission to create a 'Hall for All' here in Edinburgh.' The Centre's social engagement plan sets out an ambition to become a UK cultural sector leader in increasing access to the arts. Some 17,000 people are expected to benefit from a wide-ranging community engagement programme each year, with new opportunities created for skills development leading to improved workplace pathways. Ms Buckley added: 'With a focus on supporting civic participation and socioeconomic mobility, we intend to build trusted relationships, design thoughtful creative engagement programmes, and establish the team that will bring this work to life when we open our doors in 2029.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad She added: 'We look forward to the opportunity of exploring and sharing the parallels between the transformational philanthropy of Andrew Carnegie – and the mark this left upon the world –and the various ways civic society benefits from the provision of outstanding performance and lifelong engagement with music.' The centre is named after the Dunard Fund, an arts charity created by philanthropist Carol Colburn Grigor, which is providing much of the private funding for the venue, which is also backed by £25 million from the UK and Scottish Governments, and the city council. Jo Buckley, is chief executive of IMPACT Scotland, the charity overseeing the creation of the Dunard Centre concert hall in Edinburgh city centre. Picture: Sally Jubb
The Herald Scotland
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Carnegie medal for arts benefactor Carol Colburn Grigor
The American former concert pianist is the daughter of wealthy inventor Richard D. Colburn, with the family having an estimated net worth of $1.2bn. Ms Colburn Grigor and the fund have provided millions of pounds worth of grants to charities in the arts and heritage sectors, including the Edinburgh International Festival, National Galleries of Scotland, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, National Library of Scotland and Britain's major opera companies. Read More: A purpose-built concert hall, the Dunard Centre, is set to be built on St Andrew Square and will be the first in Edinburgh for more than 100 years. The National Centre for Music, which will be in the former Royal High School building on Calton Hill has also received support from Ms Colburn Grigor. Both projects are designed to be open and accessible to the wider community, supporting partnerships with Edinburgh schools, and encouraging local people to experience new genres and artforms on their doorstep. Jo Buckley, chief executive of the Dunard Centre, said: 'I am delighted to see Carol's transformative philanthropy being celebrated on the global stage, and it is especially fitting that this year's ceremony is taking place in Edinburgh, which was Carol's home for many years. It is no exaggeration to say that her longstanding support has helped to make Edinburgh the cultural capital that it is today, with its future assured by her powerful investment in two landmark capital projects, the Dunard Centre and the National Centre for Music. 'Cultural transformation relies on the dogged persistence and determination of visionary individuals, as Andrew Carnegie's legacy has shown us over the past century. As we look to create Edinburgh's first new concert hall in over a century, it is tantalising to think ahead to the exceptional performers it will attract, and the profound economic, social, educational and cultural impact that Carol's philanthropy will have on Scotland for generations to come." Jenny Jamison, chief executive and creative director of the National Centre for Music, said: 'Carol has been a driving force behind the National Centre for Music. "Not only has she enabled the preservation of the spectacular old Royal High School buildings which we are transforming into our home, she has also championed the importance of making this a welcoming place where locals and visitors, learners and professionals can enjoy and expand their musical passions every day. 'The National Centre for Music will celebrate and support all genres of music making and will be a place where Scottish musical history is made. Offering new resource and partnership opportunities to Scotland's music sector, it will ensure Scotland continues to be a leader in music and culture across the globe. "Carol's vision is very much at the heart of this ambition, and we are delighted to see her honoured this week.'
