The Scottish Design Exchange (SDX), the social enterprise dedicated to supporting Scotland’s creative community, has officially relaunched Scotland’s first art bank at its newly opened Glasgow store on Sauchiehall Street.
The initiative is designed to provide free art supplies to charities, schools, and social enterprises, ensuring those from disadvantaged backgrounds have the necessary resources to reach their potential as future artists and designers. Charities and social enterprises that have benefited with donations from the art bank include The DRC Youth Project and Flexible Childcare Services Scotland.
The relaunch of the art bank follows SDX officially opening the doors to its new flagship store at 250–252 Sauchiehall Street, placing SDX right in the heart of Sauchiehall Street’s ongoing regeneration. The new location brings a mix of independent artists, designers, and makers back into one of Glasgow’s most historic streets. The Glasgow store now supports over 160 artists and makers, allowing for an even broader and more diverse range of creative work to be showcased.
Lynzi Leroy, Founder of Scottish Design Exchange, said: “Creativity should never be a privilege; it should be part of everyday life in every community. With our new Sauchiehall Street store, we’re embedding our Art Bank directly into the space to create a free art supply hub for charities and community organisations. At a time when funding cuts continue to impact the arts, we want to remove barriers and enable more people to create. We have built a substantial bank of art and craft supplies, generously donated by our artists and members of the public, which we will continue to grow and distribute throughout the community.”
Susan McGhee, Chief Executive of Flexible Childcare Services Scotland, said: “It’s such great news to hear that the Scottish Design Exchange Art Bank will be relaunching from their wonderful new Sauchiehall Street store. Flexible Childcare Services benefitted from a fantastic donation of art materials which our children and young people loved getting crafty with. At a time when costs are rising and budgets are tight it is so helpful to be able to access these donated resources.”
Arthur McNeaney, Founder of The DRC Youth Project, said: “Through the Art Bank, we received a substantial donation of arts and crafts materials which has gone on to make a genuine difference across a wide range of our programmes and activities in North West Glasgow. At the DRCYP, we see first-hand the positive impact creativity can have on confidence, wellbeing, engagement, and social connection, particularly for young people who may struggle in more traditional settings. We are extremely grateful for the support shown to our organisation and the young people we work alongside every day.”
Scottish Design Exchange is actively collecting surplus art supplies of all varieties and is committed to ensuring that all donated materials go straight to those most in need. SDX is collecting everything from paper and sketchbooks, paints and brushes, pens, pencils, and markers to textiles and fabrics and crafting tools and general art materials.
Those who have a surplus of art supplies to donate, can drop them off at either the Glasgow Store on Sauchiehall Street where the Art Bank is on the shop floor or in their Edinburgh Store on George Street.
Anyone who wishes to donate but needs further assistance is encouraged to contact the SDX team directly at [email protected] or [email protected].
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