The Scottish enlightenment didn’t just give us banking and hot chocolate, the latter being a more positive melt down, but also a philosophy of cultural enterprise. Alloa, with its Hanseatic links and burgeoning merchant class in the 18th century, was well placed for entertaining such revolutionary ideas; the double fronted pillared villas, many still standing in the town today were built to accommodate front rooms – spaces where the arts and economics, science and music were merged into lively melting pots of discussion and practice.

Modern homes just don’t have the space for a pianoforte and a string quartet, a chaise longue and a cabinet of etchings; the argument that modern technology replaces these cumbersome methods of entertainment might hold true if we as humans didn’t distinguish between androids and real people, but the fact that we don’t just dream of sheep suggests that there is good reason why we persist to meet at public houses and theatres, cafés and studios.

Marcelle House is a wonderful example of late Georgian architecture. True to form, its front room, historically kept for special occasions, still possesses the framed structure for drapes where a party could retire behind from the arena of recitals and readings. Today as custodian of Studio One, I have, I hope, reactivated something of the spirit of the Salon; inviting guests to share their knowledge and talent with the house and its inmates. The original plan was simply to have interesting subjects for portraits, but this soon developed into a full scale meeting of creative minds and activities.

Typically these regular events are fairly spontaneous though visitors will know to bring in a musical instrument, an example of their work or present an idea for informed debate. Although the front room, now studio one, retains the airy grand atmosphere befitting the previous owners such as ships’ captains and sheriff substitutes, the walls are no longer arsenic laced, but rather chock a block with an eclectic mix of art works, the brocaded hassocks have been replaced with odd chairs whilst minstrels and painters mingle between the easels.

Last week Studio One played host to a wonderful array of talent in the form of young local musician Budgie, just back from a UK wide tour with his ‘antifolk’ sound, George,an experienced guitarist from Milngavie and fellow artist Tamsin playing improvised cello. I joined artist Suzanne Williams in sketching portraits of the musicians in action, whilst the poet in residence took photographs of the get together. The results of this meeting are still evolving long after guests have left and the lights are switched off; sketches may become paintings, chance melodies develop into compositions and a poet’s observations may be the first chapter of a story.