An abandoned telephone box next to one of the north-east’s busiest roads could soon become home to art exhibitions.
The Moray booth faced an uncertain future after BT disconnected the line due to the lack of calls being made from it.
Now the kiosk next to the A96 Aberdeen to Inverness road in Alves has been adopted by a new arts charity to increase opportunities to showcase work in the region.
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Stacey Toner has founded Moray Arts Development Engagement (M:ADE) in order to help create more venues for exhibitions.
And after being inspired by a bus stop on Unst, in Shetland, the New Elgin activist, who works at Moray College UHI in creative development, believes the phone box could be the ideal location.
The colourful northern isles shelter is regularly redecorated to commemorate special events and the local area – including 100 years since suffrage in the UK, the Queen’s diamond jubilee and wildlife.
Mrs Toner said: “Initially we had hoped to have five kiosks at different locations so that exhibitions could move around but we have just one at the moment.
“When we formed the charity we got people together to find out where the gaps were and it came out that there was a lack of space for different community opportunities.
“The phone box itself isn’t much to look at but due to its location next to the A96 and a bus stop, hopefully it will stimulate a lot of other projects in the area.”
Ideas already drawn up for the glass kiosk include imaginative stories to transport readers to another world when they step inside the booth, which has been christened The Portal.
Fundraising efforts have started from M:ADE to convert the Alves box into an exhibition venue.
Prints showcasing some of Elgin’s most popular historic landmarks including the cathedral, Ladyhill and the doocot in New Elgin as well as 2016’s controversial addition to the town centre the Dandy Lion have been created for sale.
Mrs Toner added: “I think Dandy is one of those things that people will think of more affectionately over time like the Angel of the North.”
