VACANT shops in Glasgow's city centre are to be turned, temporarily, into creative studios, exhibitions spaces and workshops.
Eleven vacant shop units on the city's High Street and Saltmarket will be given over to clients working in the creative industries.
The project, called Meanwhile Space, has been arranged by various parts of the Glasgow City Council to increase footfall and encourage activity in the area.
The first of the enterprises, the New Glasgow Society, an art gallery, moved in on 21 May, with all of the other units to be occupied in the near future, a council statement said.
The project is part of the council's new High Street Area Strategy.
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The shop units have undergone renovation work over the last six months in the project, which is inspired by similar initiatives in London and Paris.
Glasgow Chamber of Commerce will study the project, and if successful, it could be repeated in other areas of the city.
Councillor Susan Aitken, leader of Glasgow City Council, said: “The High Street and Saltmarket area is the historic heart of our great city.
"With its rich heritage, resonance with Glaswegians and proximity to the city centre, it has so much potential - but has been neglected for far too long. "Meanwhile Space is a fantastic opportunity to not simply breathe new life into the area but to help nurture one of Glasgow’s key sectors, the creative industries."
She added: "The flourishing galleries and creative spaces in adjoining streets show what can be achieved.
"Glasgow Chamber of Commerce will evaluate this project, highlight the best practices which may emerge to wider city centre property owners and then encourage the roll out of the approach to other areas in the city."
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The artist studio group Wasps are to take on five of the units, with other tenants including Traction Cancer Support and Sogo.
Councillor Angus Millar, chair of the High Street Reference Group, said: “The Meanwhile Space programme is a key part of what we are doing to revitalise the High Street and Saltmarket area, providing space for new and growing businesses to develop in this historic Glasgow quarter.
"Given the great heritage of this area, it’s right that many of the spaces in this project are being used by organisations from the creative industries, and I am sure they will make the High Street and Saltmarket an even more attractive place to work, live and visit.”
Audrey Carlin, chief executive of Wasps, said: “WASPS is delighted to be taking on five units as part of the Meanwhile Space project.
"This initiative offers something that doesn’t already exist in the city – a transition space in which we can support creative people to move from an artist studio into a more public facing shopfront, ultimately allowing them to develop a sustainable business and contribute to Glasgow’s economy long term."
The creative industries support over 21,000 jobs in Glasgow, in around 2,500 individual enterprises.
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