DOK Artist Space

In 2016, Edinburgh-based artists Karen Fleming and Olivia Turner decided to confront the capital's lack of affordable studio and exhibition opportunities head on by opening DOK Artist Space on Leith's shorefront.

They chanelled their creative energy into converting the last remaining building from Henry Robbs Shipyard into a useable visual and performing arts space, and since opening doors have housed countless events, from smallscale private 'dos to shows run by local theatre companies, schools and the city's art colleges.

The Steel Shed may look stark and uninviting from the outside, but inside it gives way to the perfect gathering space. Upstairs has the capacity to hold functions for up to 70 people, making it ideal to hire for exhibitions, video shoots and intimate gigs. There's also a converted shipping container, which though compact, works well for smaller art shows and community events.  

Both venues are best suited to artists looking for a more unconventional gallery space; little has changed to the industrial interior since renovations began, meaning that the minimalist steel backdrop lets the art speaks for itself. So for a cheap and quirky place to host your event, or if you're looking for somewhere out of the ordinary to let the creative juices flow, head to the harbourfront and support the local art scene.