Almost four months after our doors closed to visitors we are pleased to announce Collective will partially re-open from Thursday 9 July.

Much as we would love this to be a return to ‘full service’, we are following Scottish Government advice and re-opening cautiously, in phases, and with new social distancing measures in place.

From 9 July we’ll be open Thursday-Sunday, 10am-3pm. Our outdoor grounds and viewing platform will be open to visitors and our takeaway coffee Kiosk will be offering drinks, snacks and picnic food to enjoy outside. In the Hillside space, our shop Collective Matter will re-open in a new ‘pop-up’ format, showcasing items for sale from artists and makers.

We aim to re-open Julijonas Urbonas’ exhibition Planet of People in the City Dome from August, with the re-opening of the City Observatory and a return to a full exhibition programme in the autumn.

Our restaurant partners, The Lookout by Gardener’s Cottage, are preparing to re-open with social distancing measures as soon as Scottish Government guidelines allow.

The path back to normality will be challenging to navigate for us and many other charities and small businesses whose revenue has been hit hard in the past few months. As custodians of a site held ‘in the common good’, it is in that spirit that we ask you to work with us to bring it back to life. Come visit, please follow the guidelines and signage provided, and if you can please spend something in our Kiosk or shop, or make a donation.

There’s plenty to do and see outdoors at Collective and on Calton Hill, including our audio guides by artists, Observers’ Walks , trails for families, and more.