THE Centre for Contemporary Arts faces having to cancel all its shows until April next year following the Art School fire.

The director of the CCA said clearing its schedule for eight months was a “worst case scenario”, but could be considered as his own staff and those of 18 other organisations still cannot enter the venue due to its proximity to the Mackintosh Building.

Cultural organisations based at the CCA are pleading with Glasgow City Council to let them back in, even for a short time, to take out vital computers, records and other equipment crucial to running their businesses.

Francis McKee, director of the CCA, said the council did not seem to appreciate the importance of the venue and the knock-on effect of its closure on dozens of other groups both within and outwith the centre.

Glasgow City Council is not letting anyone into the building, part of which is on Scott Street, close to the west gable of the Mackintosh Building.

The CCA, a long-term cultural hub owned by Creative Scotland and known as The Third Eye Centre from 1975 to 1991, stages 1200 events of various kinds a year.

More than 340,000 people visit the centre annually.

Mr McKee said that, if tenants cancelled their leases and income is lost to the CCA, he may have to cancel events until next year to stave off a financial crisis.

“We can’t get back in and we don’t know when we are going to get back 
in,” added Mr McKee, who also teaches at the GSA. 

“At a certain point, the businesses will have to think about their future, and the tenants too. 

“We are now looking for a sensible discussion about how we can save this operation and contribute again to the economy of the street.

“The worst case scenario is that we keep losing money, we get back in but we have lost the cafe, the businesses, the tenants and, with the lack of income, we would be back in but not able to operate until next April, simply to stay within budget.”

No timescales have been provided as to when access to the building will be allowed and when it could re-open.

Cathie Boyd, artistic director of theatrical and music company Cryptic, said: “I would say, ‘Please Glasgow City Council, suspend operations please and let us back in’.

“Surely it is easy enough for them to enable us to go back in in small groups, give them 15 minutes each? At least we will be able to go in and get our computers out.”

Fraser Anderson, chief executive of Scottish Ensemble, said: “I am concerned that the wider impact of the remaining cordon around the CCA  is inflicting further harm on the city’s vital arts and creative sector. 

“The impact on our organisation has already been significant.

“Without full access to essential equipment, records and digital files, planning for our busy year of events becomes significantly more complex, time-consuming and potentially expensive.”

A spokesman for Glasgow City Council said safety at the site was the priority as work continues there.

He added: “This remains a complex and dangerous site and, although we are anxious to see residents and businesses return to their premises as soon as possible, that can only happen when it is safe to do so.

“As things stand, the Glasgow School of Art has a major operation under way to take down parts of the building that both we and their contractors agree are unsafe – and this will take at least eight weeks.”