It has long been our ambition to establish a CURIOUS Centre for Creativity - a dedicated movement research and creative practice studio for the company, to explore the potential for our programme of work as well as to contribute to the local cultural community and provide an additional resource for the wider dance community.

Between December 2022 – March 2024, we temporarily transformed an empty retail space in Ocean Terminal Shopping Centre, Leith, North Edinburgh into a thriving hub for dance and creativity - The Den. This allowed us to pilot our vision of future possibilities for the development of space dedicated to creative practice, deepening our commitment to creative exchange between professional artists in collaboration with non-professionals with their own creative interests. We delivered and hosted a range of events and activities, including:

  • regular twice-weekly no-cost creative practice sessions for artists and practitioners

  • a creative workshop for families based on our production Chalk About for A.S.K. (Arts Space for Kids) Shanghai’s UK Summer Camp

  • a one-off live performance by award-winning Scottish musician and composer David Paul Jones

  • Edinburgh Performing Arts Development (EPAD) day of sanctuary from the Fringe - a space of respite from the intensity of the Fringe Festival for performing arts professionals, which included facilitated movement sessions throughout the day

  • 3 public sharings of improvisation Practice in Performance

  • an Open Day for members of the public as part of an open practice session for dance artists and a community art exhibition in partnership with North Edinburgh Arts ‘Art for Grown Ups’ group and West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre’s Ladies Lunch group

In March 2024, the planned redevelopment of the Ocean Terminal building meant that the original Den came to an end. However, we were delighted to be able to relocate literally across the road!  In July 2024, Curious Seed were invited to undertake residency under the umbrella of the Dissenter Collective https://dissenter.space/ at a new temporary space at Ocean Point. The Ocean Point space is part of the Outer Spaces network, a charity collaborating with artists, art collectives, organisations and commercial property owners to occupy and activate the nation’s empty commercial spaces https://outerspaces.org/. In this context, we are continuing The Den as a space for creative practice and welcoming practitioners in for sessions facilitated by the Artistic Director, Christine Devaney, and other invited artists.

'The Den is such an incredible resource! Having space to regularly practice ideas, movement, creativity with other artists has made a real difference to my working practice, to the quality of work I am making and to my abilities as a dancer… Overall I've felt a huge growth in my practice, my confidence and my connections… Curious Seed opening The Den has definitely been part of that.' Dance artist, 2023