The scheme, led by Wasps Artists' Studios, has now secured 75% of the £4.9m needed for it to go ahead.

The project will involve the regeneration of a magnificent Grade A-listed Victorian and Edwardian market complex to provide a dedicated home for everything from dance and circus to street theatre, flying trapeze and other aerial skills.

An amazing location

The Creation Centre will complete the revival of a historic structure that occupies an important location on the Clyde riverfront.

The Briggait, in the heart of Glasgow's medieval Merchant City, is an amazing place, including Scotland’s oldest surviving collection of market halls and an elegant stone tower dating from 1665. The halls were built in several stages between 1873 and 1904 and served as the city’s fish market.

Wasps has already given new life to parts of the Briggait, using it as a headquarters, and as offices and studios for a variety of creative organisations.

[quote=Lucy Casot, Head of HLF in Scotland]“Our funding will help Briggait Creation Centre thrive in a way that is sustainable and relevant to today and to the community it serves.”[/quote]

The project will also provide many activities for schools and opportunities for the local community to become involved in projects such as researching the history of performance in the area, compiling an archive photographic exhibition, developing heritage walks and tours and learning traditional construction skills through traineeships.

Lucy Casot, Head of HLF in Scotland, said: “We have already seen what can be done at the Briggait with National Lottery funding so are delighted to continue our support with the transformation of these old market halls.”

Once operational, the Briggait Creation Centre will be a hub for 600 professional artists, physical performers and dancers. It will be home to five arts organisations – Dance House Glasgow, Conflux, Indepen-dance, Aerial Edge and YDance.