Council working to safeguard future of 'valued cultural asset'

The Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA) said challenges caused by the pandemic and fires at the Glasgow School of Art had taken their toll on the business and in recent weeks it had learned that its financial position "is no longer viable".

The CCA venue on Sauchiehall Street, which was originally set up as the Third Eye Centre, is home to a number of cultural tenants.

READ MORE: Centre for Contemporary Arts faces closure due to financial concerns

In a statement, its management team said that discussions with staff, programme partners and tenants had already begun over plans, which are likely to involve a temporary or partial closure in the near future.

Glasgow City Council has been working with its arms length organisation Glasgow Life to put in place appropriate support to "secure a sustainable future for what is one of the city's valued cultural assets."

This has included the council agreeing a loan to the CCA, to allow it time to work with its main funders - which include Creative Scotland - to develop a new business plan.

The CCA is putting together a new business plan to help secure its future (Image: Newsquest)

It is understood the financial support offered may not be enough to halt a temporary closure.

The CCA was first forced to close in 2018 after a fire destroyed the nearby Glasgow School of Art.

Several of the businesses which rented out space inside the building never returned after it reopened.

The centre's cafe bar was later closed permanently following a row over pay and working conditions, which led to the venue shutting permanently in April last year.

A spokesman for the venue said: "Our immediate focus is now on securing CCA’s long-term survival.

"Discussions with the staff team, programme partners and cultural tenants have started this week regarding our future plans - likely to be a temporary or partial closure later on this year."

A Creative Scotland spokewoman said: "We are in regular discussion with both CCA and Glasgow Life on helping to address the challenges being faced."

Francis McKee stepped down as director of the CCA late last year after 18 years leading the venue.

Mr McKee has been credited with transforming the organisation into a "dynamic and distinctive" institution within the arts community in Scotland, elevating CCA’s profile on an international stage and helping launch the careers of world-renowned artists including David Shrigley.

The CCA was established on Sauchiehall Street in 1991. 

Three years later the venue hosted New Art in Scotland, by Turner Prize winner Douglas Gordon, Jane Lee and Nicola White.