A Tale of Two Spaces
A Tale of Two Spaces - DDS x DSS
Dundee’s Double Door Studios (DDS) and Dock Street Studios (DSS) are working together to celebrate and showcase the work of each group with a collaborative event held in July 2022. Sometimes confused with each other, the two studios want to tell people about what they do, how they work and what they make.
The event series will begin on the 9th and 10th July across three locations - Double Door Studios on Ward Road, Dock Street Studios along from Malmaison Hotel, and a stall at the Overgate Shopping Centre bridging both locations.
Over the weekend you can pop by the DDS and see Live Jewellery Making Demos, browse through a collection of wares available at the DSS including a special DDS showcase or stop by our shared pop-up at the Overgate where we'll chat some more about Who, What, Where we are and our respective venues.
The DDS showcase at DSS will be open every day until the 17th June, a Meet the Maker evening will take place on Thursday 14th with faces from both DDS and makers represented by DSS. Islay Spalding, ieva jankovska and Holly McAfee from Double Door Studios got together with Sara Campbell from Dock Street Studios and asked each other some questions about their studios and what they are to provide a little insight before the event:
DDS: What is Dock Street Studios?
SC: Dock Street Studios is a gift shop gallery and cafe. We aim to give visitors a unique shopping experience with a wide range of local artists and designers work on sale together with sustainable international homewares brands.
DSS: What is Double Door Studios?
IJ: We are studio space, a jewellery workshop and exhibition room shared by six independent craft businesses. As a collective we run an intermittent events programme with an aim to promote independent craft designers and makers that are local to Dundee or sometimes further afield.
DDS: When/Why was Dock Street Studios established and what can people expect to see
there?
SC: Dock Street Studios was established in 2017 as a permanent centre for local makers and artists to showcase their work to locals and visitors to the city. You can expect ever changing artworks, collaborators and workshops. Dock Street Studios is an open plan adaptable space with separate areas of cafe, retail and gallery/ workshop all under one roof.
DSS: Tell us a bit more about how you chose the name ‘Double Door Studios’?
IS: The name originates from the location; a 140 year old office building in the centre of Dundee with original features including the grand double door leading into the space. For a long time our premises had been used as a solicitors office and many of the previous features have stayed, including the grand Double Door leading you into the space. I wanted to choose a name that had nothing to do with our existing businesses so it wouldn't refer to any one person working in the space, but the actual space itself.
DDS: What makes Dock Street Studios unique?
SC: I love that when we have a different exhibition, the space takes on a new identity. We have had such a varied array of events from Car launch, comedy nights, life drawing and live music.
DSS: If you had to name your favourite thing about Double Door Studios, what would that be?
HM: My favourite thing about Double Door Studios is the bright and flexible exhibition space. We curate pop up shops throughout the year and hold exhibitions showcasing work of local artists - notably, the ‘100 Jewels by 100 Women’ exhibition held in 2021. The space looks very different each time we use it. It’s also a lovely creative and light space to welcome clients for consultations.
DDS: What would you say is the biggest challenge for Dock Street Studios?
SC: We welcome many visitors to the city and the shop but our ongoing challenge is getting more locals to know about the exciting things we do.
DSS: What would you say is the biggest challenge for DDS?
IJ: We struggle with accessibility issues due to being located on the first floor of an old building with no lift but this also drives us to think of new ways we can bring audiences to the work we do. For example, we are happy to arrange virtual shopping experiences during our pop-up events.
DDS: Could you describe ‘a regular day’ at the Dock Street Studios?
A typical day is relaxed and fun. Consisting of opening up, coffee machine on and freshly grind the beans. Making sure everything is neat, tidy and ready to greet visitors. Reviewing new applications for artists coming on board or meeting with new stockists. Planning launches and promotions. Preparing delicious menus for the cafe and chatting with regular faces that pass by.
DSS: Could you describe ‘a regular day’ at the Double Door Studios?
IS: As we all run our independent businesses to our own schedules, no two days in the studios are ever the same. The Jewellery Workshop is the busiest space on a regular day with each of the four resident jewellers having a permanent bench space there and sometimes an extra person using the hot desk or assisting a resident. As well as sharing the workshop, we also share tools, equipment and knowledge. We have our own work on display and for sale and we are open ‘by appointment’ for viewings and sales. Some of us run jewellery making workshops for the public, or we might have a consultation for a bespoke piece of jewellery with a customer in the exhibition room. On sunny days we have also been known to be found out in the Howff graveyard doing some admin or social media in the fresh air!
DDS: Have you got any exciting projects in the pipeline?
We are looking forward to hosting another Dundee Fringe Festival in September. A great range of performers joined us last year and we aim to make the two week event grow bigger this year.
DSS: Have you got any exciting projects in the pipeline?
HM: The jewellers of DDS are currently working on an exciting collaborative project - combining their styles, skills and creative ideas… follow our instagram page @doubledoorstudios to keep up to date.
DDS: What is your favourite thing about Double Door Studios?
SC: I am a self confessed ring addict! I love the intimate events they host and always treat myself to a little sparkly something when I’m there.
DDS: What is your favourite thing about Dock Street Studios?
HM: I love that you can go to Dock Street Studios to browse a brilliant selection of work by local artists, then sit and enjoy the space with a really good coffee from the café. The full event programme including Live Jewellery Making demonstration times will be released at
Double Door Studios can be found on the first floor at
7 Ward Road, Dundee, DD1 1LP
and
Dock Street Studios are at 9/10 Dock Street, Dundee, DD1 4BT
