Craigerne Consulting
BEFS newest Associate Member introduces himself and his company.
I’m David McAllister, managing Director of Craigerne Consulting Limited, based in Peebles in the Scottish Borders. I have set up this new business following a period of sixteen successful years in various roles with the National Trust for Scotland. I’m a highly experienced professional with a total of over 30 years in the Heritage sector focussed on Conservation and Operational management and skilled in the planning and delivery of successful, award winning heritage projects. I am now taking opportunities to bring my expertise to a wider and more diversified Client base.
I have a deep passion for our entire heritage and have well developed understanding of all the complexities, opportunities and constraints that are always the fundamental elements of Heritage, Conservation and Cultural projects. Also, with over 7 years as a member of the NTS Senior Management Team I have the experience of managing an extensive portfolio of highly significant heritage assets in a climate of considerable change.
I believe his combination of experience makes me a considerable asset for the planning and execution of successful projects in the Heritage, Conservation and Cultural Sectors.
See more about the services I offer on my website: www.craigerne-consulting.com
Current Activity
I’m currently working on a Visitor Improvement Plan for the Bo’ness Motor Museum. This is focusing on the wonderfully unique and at times quirky collection of 20th century cars and associated memorabilia the museum has collected over the years, many associated with film and television – so all very much recent cultural heritage here! The James Bond collection is particularly noteworthy as is the Harry Potter Ford Anglia. The work involves setting out short, medium and longer-term actions for the team to implement that will boost visitor numbers and improve visitor experience.
We are also exploring a new website and expanding on social media content to promote collections, activities and engage with new audiences.
Hospitalfield Arts, Arbroath
As a Trustee and Chair of the Development Committee at Hospitalfield for the ambitious Future Plan it is an exciting time with our Stage 2 HLF application in for approval hopefully later in the year. It is an ongoing pleasure to be involved in such a worthwhile and vibrant project!
Project Funding approval from Creative Scotland is expected soon and we are one of the key capital projects included in the Tay Cities Deal proposals currently under consideration.
Phase 1 of the project includes a new residential block by Stirling Prize winners Caruso St John, the restoration of the old Glasshouse and Fernery, bringing these back into public use. The latest addition to the scheme is the exciting proposal for the garden by Nigel Dunnet, which we are delighted with and we believe, will bring new audiences to Hospitalfield for the first time. Hospitalfield is dedicated to contemporary art and ideas a place to work, study, learn, visit and enjoy.
See more at: http://hospitalfield.org.uk/about/future-plan/
Two Cities
I have been fortunate to visit two World Heritage Cities in recent weeks, Bologna and Hamburg. This is the reason I was unable to attend the Financing the Historic Environment conference in Glasgow, which I’m sad to have missed as it looks to have been a great success with insightful presentations and discussions. Hopefully next year I will be better organised.
Here are some impressions from Bologna, a truly inspiring city that don’t need more words to describe. Make a point of visiting if you have not been before, ther is wonderful artwork everywhere you look!
Hamburg is also well worth the visit, particularly to see the outstanding conservation/transformation underway in the Halfencity district, but for the purposes of this blog I wanted to focus on just one building. The Elbphilharmonie by Herzog & De Meuron -arguably a building that is redefining a city.
Not without controversy (the cost overrun puts the Scottish Parliament in the shade and is still a very hot topic in the city). This is an astonishing, awe inspiring building all the more remarkable in that it is an adaptation and extension (and what an extension) of an original brick warehouse in the heart of the old docks.
Hamburg now has an unmistakable new landmark on the city skyline.
The guidebook talks of its silhouette as a …’symbol of Germany as a nation of culture. A symphony of beauty, an ode to the future’ I don’t disagree.
Finally a plug for a couple of upcoming events focused on Grandison & Son Decorative Plasterers– one of the last remaining plastering workshops in Scotland, and how their wonderful collection of moulds and casts will be at risk once the current proprietor retires in around 10 years’ time. Over the past few months a small group of us have been working on ways of securing the future of this unique business and plasterwork museum based in Peebles and with the grateful assistance of Live Borders are happy to announce two upcoming events planned to increase awareness of the collection, which we hope one day will be recognised as a collection of national significance in its own right.