A bid to turn an empty Moray museum into a music school and venue is going ahead after receiving huge public support.
More than 50 people attended a meeting about plans to turn the disused Buckie Drifter into a centre for traditional Scottish music.
The team behind the bid will now set about gaining charitable status and preparing a business plan.
The next step afterwards will be to apply to Moray Council for a community asset transfer in order to take over the running of the museum building on Freuchny Road, which closed in 2005.
Gordon McDonald, who represents Buckie on the council, said: “If we manage to get this off the ground it’s going to be something that’s unique in Scotland.
“Although there’s a traditional music centre in Plockton it’s on nothing like the same scale that this will be.
“A music centre will be of enormous benefit not just to Buckie or even Moray, but to the whole of the country.
“As part of their courses the students will be required to go out into the community to play. So local hotels, pubs and even nursing homes will also gain.”
The venue already has an area that will accommodate about 190 people, so it will be available for concerts.
In addition, another area will be turned into an area where musicians can come along and improvise together.
James Alexander, a founder member of both the Fochabers Fiddlers band and the Speyfest musical festival, said: “Many visitors come to the area looking to hear traditional music, but unless they’re lucky enough to come on the right day they are often going home disappointed.
“We need to do more to push our traditions, and the Buckie Drifter will play a major role in that.
“The centre will offer tuition from pre-school age right the way to degree level and will hopefully be the focus for traditional music in Scotland.”