People in Penicuik have long enjoyed concerts, exhibitions, workshops, ceilidhs, and other events in our cosy wee arts centre in West Street. Not to mention the very yummy and inexpensive homemade soups, scones, toasties and cakes in the tiny gallery café run by the café cooperative, where "regulars" become friends who are looked out for, and where strangers are warmly welcomed. The arts centre is run, managed and manned by volunteers, and we keep all prices as low as possible. This means we're not rich and we run on a shoe-string.

Times are particularly hard at the moment and our finances are precarious. But we have a unique opportunity to buy a second hand exhibition hanging system from Riccio Gallery (which has recently closed). We have first refusal! We'd love to go ahead with this purchase, but we need a healthier kitty first.

Many local artists exhibit in our gallery-café, and many visitors to the Arts Centre enjoy seeing their work.

Please can you help us with this purchase?