Grain store hosts art exhibition

The unconventional space houses Demarco's massive art collection

An East Lothian farm is set to become a temporary art gallery for Edinburgh arts impresario Richard Demarco.

The archive, documenting the past 40 years of Mr Demarco's life in art, will be on display in a grain store at Skateraw Farm near Dunbar.

Seed farmer Johnny Watson offered his barn after learning that a venue was needed for Mr Demarco's collection.

The exhibition, which includes artwork, books, letters and films, has yet to find a permanent home.

The use of the farm building is in keeping with 75-year-old Mr Demarco's belief that art should not just be displayed in conventional galleries and exhibition spaces.

'Dream come true'

Mr Demarco's enthusiasm and drive for supporting and promoting Scottish arts has made him one of the most influential figures in the Scottish arts world.

Speaking to BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme, he said: "It's a dream come true. I cant believe that finally after all these years I can see a space for my archive.

"It is a space which I identify with one of my favourite parts of Europe, the coastline south of Edinburgh which leads you to Europe.

I wasn't sure I'd ever be able to show it on this scale Richard Demarco

"The farm is near a town called Dunbar, with its beautiful medieval harbour, where my father was brought up at the beginning of the century - so I've come home."

Mr Watson, who is housing the variety of items collected by Mr Demarco, said he was more than happy to help out.

"I was driving round farms in the Borders in November last year and I heard a radio programme talking about Richard and his predicament," he recalled.

"Edinburgh hadn't managed to come up with an appropriate building for his archive and I was in the middle of putting one up.

"I decided to offer it to Richard so that the nation could see what he has collected."

Mr Demarco said the barn gallery was an ideal temporary home for his collection.

"My archive is too big to be accommodated, even in the National Gallery of Modern Art. I wasn't sure I'd ever be able to show it on this scale."