In 2002, prominent west ender and Publican Colin Beattie began what would become an enduring labour of love, to transform the building into a multi-purpose venue with a focus on the arts and events. The refurbishment of Òran Mór (Gaelic for “Big Song”) was painstaking and ambitious, bringing together some of the greatest minds in Scotland to bring Colin’s vision to life. Peter McGurn, the Project Architect, lived a stone’s throw from the project himself and Alasdair Gray, a globally renowned artist and writer, was brought on board to paint a mural on the ceiling which would go on to become Scotland’s largest piece of public art. The enduring relationship between Òran Mór and the art world can be discovered by scanning the various gallery prompts around the building, which will tell you more about the individual pieces and their history.