What's happened
The Scottish Chamber Orchestra has completed a five-year Craigmillar residency, engaging more than 23,000 participants across nearly 1,000 events. The program explored who gets to make music, connecting community life with school-based learning through projects like Seen and Heard and Reconnect, culminating in a final Queen’s Hall concert.
What's behind the headline?
- The program demonstrates a shift in how orchestras engage with communities, moving beyond traditional concert halls. - It highlights the potential of arts organizations to reframe concepts of excellence through participatory experiences. - The long-term impact on participants and the community remains a key question for audiences and funders alike.
How we got here
Initiated in 2021 in Edinburgh’s Craigmillar district, the residency aimed to challenge assumptions about who creates music and which music counts. It linked community projects with school programs, building long-term relationships between SCO and local residents, including Castlebrae Community High School.
Our analysis
The Scotsman, David Kettle, publish date: Wed, 10 Jun 2026 12:50:53 +0100; context from SCO materials on their Craigmillar residency.
Go deeper
- What did the Craigmillar residency achieve beyond the final concert?
- How will SCO sustain community engagement after the residency ends?
- What lessons can other orchestras learn from this model?