Making Together: A Year of Creativity at EOW

As 2025 comes to a close, we’re looking back on an incredible year of creativity, learning and community at Edinburgh Open Workshop. Whether you dropped in once, came every week, taught, learned, crafted or supported from afar – thank you. You helped make this year extraordinary.

With the festive celebrations about to kick-off, we thought we would give you the heads up on our Holiday Hours, along with our final EOW update of the year.

EOW Holiday Closure Dates
21 December – 4 January

The workshop will close at 5pm on Saturday 20th December and will not reopen until 9am on Monday 5th January. The EOW elves will be taking a well earned rest – so will not respond to emails or return calls during this time. If you are itching to get started again in the New Year, go to our website where you can make advance bookings, sign up to classes, and even purchase our EOW Gift Vouchers in time for Christmas. Otherwise, we will see you back in the workshop for tours, classes, bookings and a cuppa from 5 January.

Community & Events

Our workshop was buzzing all year round, with four major events – Family Day, Doors Open Day, our Summer Market and the Festive Makers Market – bringing hundreds of people through our doors.

The Leith Creative Trail enjoyed another fantastic year too, celebrating local makers and drawing in thousands both in person and online.

We also launched a new website, grew our social community, and welcomed two new team members, Lucy and Julie, who’ve helped strengthen our connections with our members and across the city.

A major highlight was winning the Creative Edinburgh Community Award – an honour that means so much to us, not only because community is at the heart of everything we do, but because it placed us alongside so many inspiring organisations working to improve the lives of people across the city.

On the Workshop Floor

This year saw continued improvements to the workshop, including a new metalwork area and more storage for both residents and PAYG makers. Our community produced an incredible range of work – from handmade lyres and upcycled furniture to public art built in the workshop and gifted to the city.

Our commissions and cutting services had a strong year, with CNC and laser projects for local businesses, universities, theatre companies, publishing houses and marketing companies.

And our event space was busier than ever, hosting rehearsals, training sessions, community meetups… and even puppy yoga. Proof that the workshop truly is a space for all kinds of creativity.

Learning & New Voices

Our learning programme grew in exciting new directions. We launched our very first Welding Club, giving makers a supported way to continue developing their skills.

New courses included furniture upcycling, a garden bench summer special, a week-long introduction to furniture design, and a new series of laser cutting workshops.

We also welcomed a brilliant group of new tutors whose skills and creativity have helped shape one of our most dynamic programmes yet.

Looking Ahead to 2026

There’s plenty to look forward to next year:

New courses including Sew Your Own Backpack, plus upcoming textile, leatherwork and upholstery classes.
More community-led clubs, including a new Woodworking Club and other group-led making meetups.
Family Day evolves into Family Club with more regular, hands-on sessions.
An expanded commissions programme for local artists, businesses and creative organisations.

Thank You

Every project, course, market, conversation and shared cuppa has helped grow this creative community. Thank you for being part of EOW in 2025 – we can’t wait to welcome you back in 2026 for even more building, learning and making magic together.

Here’s to another year of creativity. See you in the workshop.