Multi-million pound plans to transform Ellisland Farm went on show to the public yesterday.
It was a chance for people to see the first stage of the “FutureVision” which has been six months in the making and drawn up by some of Scotland’s leading architects, heritage, arts and environmental experts at a cost of £36,000.
The proposals are to create income-generating artistic residencies in the existing farm buildings, and off grid, which will allow a new generation of artists, musicians and songwriters to be inspired by the rural landscape. The new accommodation would be modelled on The Hermitage – a tiny bothy on the neighbouring Friars Carse estate where Burns would escape to write.
The world-famous Ellisland Collection, including manuscripts and Burns’ possessions such as his flute, books and fishing rod would be rehomed on display in a proposed new-build visitor centre which will also have a cafe and exhibition space.
The farmhouse, where the Burns family lived, would become an immersive space where visitors can experience the domestic life of that era.
There would also be new planting aimed at improving biodiversity in the woodlands and fields laid out as part of Burns’ tenancy, with pathways to improve accessibility and include interpretation panels by artists.
Yesterday’s drop-in will be followed up by an interactive digital campaign funded by Dumfries and Galloway Council’s community-led Vision Fund.
No figures have been given yet on how much the project will cost. Neither has a timescale been set, nor how it will be funded.
However, the Robert Burns Ellisland Trust – the charity which has run it since 2020 – needs to seek funders and generate income every step of the way as it receives no regular public subsidy.
It is also expected to expect to generate 15 to 20 direct jobs and 25 to 30 indirect jobs on the 170 acre site. Joan McAlpine, the charity’s business development manager said they plan to carry on with that and will need to seek funding from various sources, but first want to hear what the public think of their plans.
She told the Standard: “We won’t get the final report with costings until late March. We want feedback first from the public.
“When we get the final report we will use that as the basis of fundraising for the next stage, which is to get detailed plans together for submission to the council.
“This means we will have to keep raising funds to operate in the meantime, including for any repairs. That will be a challenge.”
