Out of the Blue
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1994
- HeadquartersEdinburgh, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
Out of the Blue firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Out of the Blue
- Legal name
- Out of the Blue Arts & Education Trust
- Website
- https://outoftheblue.org.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1994
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Out of the Blue industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Arts and Education Venue Operations
- NAICS
- Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71), Fine Arts Schools (611610), Amusement Parks and Arcades (7131)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Retail-Eating Places (5812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Arts Education & Community Arts Programs (BPAGAHAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Performing Arts & Cultural Event Venues (Theaters, Museums) (THAHAAAG), Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB)
Keywords
Where Out of the Blue is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Edinburgh
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Out of the Blue business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Venue and Studio Rentals: Rental income from Drill Hall and The Bongo Club event spaces, rehearsal studios, music rooms, cutting rooms, and studio lets to artists and creative practitioners.
- Event Catering: Drill Hall Arts Cafe and event catering services providing food and beverages.
- Grants and Funders: Funding from Creative Scotland, National Lottery, City of Edinburgh Council, William Grant Foundation, Gannochy Trust, and Foundation Scotland to support arts and education programs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Music Room - Small sound insulated room |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Cutting Room - Clean modern meeting space |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Rehearsal Studio - Large space with mirrors and sprung floor |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Main Hall - Bright airy space with wooden floor |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Out of the Blue product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Out of the Blue Arts & Education Trust operates five Edinburgh buildings as a multi-venue arts and education social enterprise, offering affordable studio rentals, event and performance venue hire, a hospitality cafe, a print and design social enterprise, community markets, and arts training. Its core commercial offerings are venue hire (Drill Hall halls and rooms, Bongo Club), studio rentals (Abbeymount Studios), cafe and event catering (Drill Hall Arts Cafe), and youth and community arts programs.
Product overview
Out of the Blue Arts and Education Trust is a charitable organization operating as a multi-venue arts and education center in Edinburgh. The organization manages five buildings including the Drill Hall (main venue with event spaces and cafe), Abbeymount Studios (maker and design center), Drill Hall Arts Cafe, The Bongo Club (nightclub and live venue), and Out of the Blueprint (social enterprise print service). The portfolio also includes venue hire services, regular flea and arts markets, various art classes and workshops, and event catering. Founded in 1994, the organization provides affordable creative spaces, supports artists, and offers community engagement programs across Edinburgh.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Abbeymount Studios: Arts studios and creative workspace operated by the trust.
- The Bongo Club
- Out of the Blueprint
- Drill Hall
- Drill Hall Arts Cafe
Products and services
- OOTB Drill Hall Venue Hire Multi-space arts venue in Edinburgh offering hire of Main Hall (capacity 280), Rehearsal Studio, Music Room, and Cutting Room for exhibitions, performances, conferences, and events; serves artists, event organizers, and the local community.
- Abbeymount Studios Centre for making, creating, and design in Edinburgh providing affordable studio spaces for artists, makers, creators, and designers, along with classes and workshops.
- The Bongo Club Multi-functional performance space and nightclub available for hire day and night with capacity for 420 people, hosting live music, club nights, and events.
- Drill Hall Arts Cafe Cafe located within the Drill Hall serving food and drinks to walk-in customers Monday to Saturday, and providing event and corporate catering services.
- Out of the Blueprint Social enterprise offering affordable and eco-friendly print and design services, with a particular focus on supporting under-25s through traineeships and self-publishing of prints, comics, and zines.
- Event Catering Event and corporate catering services provided by the Drill Hall Arts Cafe team for events held at the trust's venues and external clients.
- Venue Hire (Spaces Booking) Hourly and event-based hire of spaces at the OOTB Drill Hall (Music Room from £11/hr, Cutting Room from £14/hr, Rehearsal Studio from £19/hr, Main Hall capacity 280) and The Bongo Club for exhibitions, team meetings, workshops, music gigs, and other events.
- Drill Hall Classes and Workshops Art classes and workshops offered at the Drill Hall including textile workshops, Riso workshops, sewing workshops, and yoga, with paid fees ranging from £6.50 to £165.
Quantifiable outcome
- Supported over 300 people to gain practical skills and experience through cafe training programs
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Out of the Blue
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Out of the Blue technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Out of the Blue partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators7 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Out of the Blue competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Rich Mix: London cultural charity combining cinema, performance spaces, gallery, and creative workspace. Comparable multi-use charitable arts venue with venue hire, events, and community programming.
- Wasps Artists Studios: Scottish charity providing affordable studio and creative workspace for artists across multiple buildings. Closely comparable mission and operating model in Scotland for studio-letting to artists and makers.
- Roundhouse: Iconic UK charity operating a performance and creative venue with strong youth arts programs, studio spaces, and venue hire. Comparable charitable structure focused on creative opportunities for young people and community.
- Summerhall: Edinburgh-based multi-venue arts complex offering artist studios, performance spaces, exhibitions, and a bar/cafe. Operates as a comparable community-focused arts hub in the same city, serving similar artist and local community segments.
- The Albany: London community arts centre and charity offering creative participation, venue hire, classes, and youth programs. Highly comparable charitable community-arts operating model targeting local residents and artists.
- Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA) Glasgow: Multi-disciplinary arts venue in Glasgow combining galleries, cinemas, performance spaces, cafe/bar, and artist workspaces under a charitable structure. Direct counterpart in Scotland offering venue hire, exhibitions, classes, and community programming.
- Battersea Arts Centre: Charity-run community arts venue in a former town hall offering theatre, studio, and event space hire alongside participation and training programs. Closely comparable model of charitable multi-venue arts/community programming in the UK.
Broad incumbents
- Southbank Centre: Major UK arts complex offering multiple performance and exhibition venues, festival programming, and educational/community initiatives at much larger scale. Broader-incumbent comparison for venue-hire and cultural-programming operating model.
Regional players
- The Old Market: Community arts venue in Brighton/Hove operating performance and event spaces with a charitable/community ethos. Comparable venue-hire and arts-programming model but serves a different UK region.
Others
- Create Edinburgh / Edinburgh Art Festivals collective: Edinburgh-wide network of arts venues, festivals, and partner organizations that share audiences and programming with Out of the Blue. Ecosystem-level adjacency rather than direct operator competition.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Out of the Blue social profiles
Digital presenceOut of the Blue financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Out of the Blue leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Out of the Blue subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries5 records
Out of the Blue funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Out of the Blue M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Out of the Blue
What does Out of the Blue do?
Out of the Blue Arts & Education Trust operates five Edinburgh buildings as a multi-venue arts and education social enterprise, offering affordable studio rentals, event and performance venue hire, a hospitality cafe, a print and design social enterprise, community markets, and arts training. Its core commercial offerings are venue hire (Drill Hall halls and rooms, Bongo Club), studio rentals (Abbeymount Studios), cafe and event catering (Drill Hall Arts Cafe), and youth and community arts programs.
Is Out of the Blue a public or private company?
Out of the Blue is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Out of the Blue founded?
Out of the Blue was founded in 1994. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Out of the Blue based?
Out of the Blue is headquartered in Edinburgh, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Out of the Blue make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Venue and Studio Rentals are the primary driver. The others are event Catering and grants and Funders.
Who are Out of the Blue's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Rich Mix, Wasps Artists Studios, Roundhouse, Summerhall, The Albany, Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA) Glasgow and Battersea Arts Centre. Southbank Centre is listed as a broad incumbent. The Old Market is listed as a regional player. Create Edinburgh / Edinburgh Art Festivals collective is listed as an others.
Does Out of the Blue have an API?
No public API is recorded for Out of the Blue.
What industry is Out of the Blue in?
Out of the Blue's product category is Community Arts and Education Venue Operations. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAHAC, Arts Education & Community Arts Programs, with a secondary code of THAHAAAG, Performing Arts & Cultural Event Venues (Theaters, Museums). Its NAICS code is 71 and its SIC code is 7900.