National Centre for Children’s Literature to close

A centre established five years ago to "nurture a love of reading and storytelling" across Scotland will close due to ongoing financial pressures, it has been announced.

The National Centre for Children's Literature and Storytelling, based in an historic building in Dumfries which helped inspire author JM Barrie to write Peter Pan, said it had experienced a reduction in statutory funding, grant funding, donor income and legacies while there had also been a drop in visitor numbers.

At the same time, the costs of running the centre had increased.

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"It is with a heavy heart that we announce the imminent closure of the Peter Pan Moat Brae Trust and Visitor Centre from 23 August 2024," a statement issued by the Moat Brae Trust, which established the centre in 2019, said.

"We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to the staff. volunteers, members and many supporters of the trust for their commitment in bringing the magic of books and storytelling to life for the thousands of visitors who passed through the doors."

Moat Brae was built in 1823 but had fallen into disrepair by the late 2000s.

The Peter Pan Moat Brae Trust bought the building for £1 in 2009 and began a lengthy fundraising journey to raise the millions of pounds needed to create a children's literature centre, which eventually opened in 2019.

Dame Barbara Kelly – a former Chair of the trust who was part of the campaign to save the building, told the BBC there is still hope for the future with a general meeting due to take place to examine options for the property.

"I think we have to come up with positive solutions," she said.

"It is of such economic significance to the town – but it is also of historical significance."