The Porty Light Box

Local phone box to be renovated and to become a light box to display local artwork and images.

The “Porty Light Box” is a decommissioned phonebox in Portobello, Edinburgh. An iconic example of British design, it has been adopted by the Portobello Community Council on behalf of the local community. It is currently being re-painted and re-glazed with a lock recently installed.

We plan to fix three, full length, opaque white acrylic panels on the inside to act as a diffuser screen. Once extra fluorescent tubes are installed inside, we will have created a large light box from which to display images by local artists, schoolchildren or other groups.

These images will change on a regular basis and we will also install low-energy LEDs to create a simple, colourful light display whilst other artwork is being prepared.

Ultimately, we intend to raise funds to allow for a digital display system which has interactive participation with the local community.

Other communities have adopted phoneboxes but we believe we are the first in an urban context to try this.

What we'll do:

• strip old loose paint, and repaint the inside and outside
• install a lock
• remove old scratched plastic glazing panels and install new tempered glass and glass frames
• replace faded "telephone" signs
• Install 3 large, full length diffuser screens
• install coloured LED light system
• obtain artwork from local schools to display

Why it's a great idea:

It's just a simple idea that retains a small part of the local heritage for everyone. It allows for a bit of fun and it might brighten up the street during the long winter nights.

How we'll get it done:

• A team of local volunteers will strip and paint the phone box
• Maclarens locksmiths, Bread Street, have installed a robust lock

This funding is for the renovation and installation of the initial light box diffuser screens. Other ideas for future projects, once the Porty Light Box has been established have already been suggested and include filling it with pumpkins on Hallowe'en, holding Punch and Judy shows in the summer, selling ice cream, turning the inside into a 1950's sitting room and having local memories played back through speakers....

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