Edinburgh faces arts emergency say Greens
The Scottish Greens have called on Edinburgh City Council and the Scottish Government to protect Edinburgh’s arts sector, warning that the further loss of crucial spaces and development opportunities would be a major blow to the city’s cultural life.
The party’s culture spokesperson, Q Manivannan MSP, who represents Edinburgh and Lothians East has led calls for action to protect the city's art and cultural spaces
Q hosted a public meeting at Summerhall arts centre on Sunday alongside arts charity Summerhall Arts. Over 250 artists and members of the public, along with crossparty MSPs and councillors, including Katherine Sangster MSP, Kate Nevens MSP, Cllr Dan Heap, Cllr Ruth Elliott and Cllr Steve Burgess attended to voice their concerns about the arts emergency and growing threats facing Edinburgh’s wider cultural sector.
Summerhall itself is under threat. Q has urged the Council to ensure that any approved development safeguards affordable studio space for artists, preserves Summerhall’s iconic venue as a welcoming community space, and protects the social spaces that bring people together and keep culture accessible to all.
It is just one part of a growing crisis. St Margaret’s House in Meadowbank is also facing closure, while faculty and students at the Edinburgh College of Art contend with the closure of the final three undergraduate craft programmes. Arts venues, independent organisations and creative workers across the city are being squeezed by rising costs and a lack of affordable space.
Q put the concerns to the First Minister in the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday, urging ministers to commit to supporting the sector. In response, the First Minister said the Scottish Government would “happily consider” any proposals put forward.
Without urgent action, hundreds of artists, arts organisations and charities could be left without affordable or suitable places to work, threatening livelihoods, community connections and the future of Edinburgh’s internationally renowned cultural scene.
Q said:
“Edinburgh’s cultural scene is iconic and rightly celebrated around the world, but that reputation cannot be taken for granted.
“Right now, our cultural sector is facing a perfect storm, with vital spaces like Summerhall and St Margaret’s House under threat, rising costs forcing artists out of their studios, and organisations struggling to keep their doors open.
“Behind every threatened venue and each programme cut are artists trying to make a living and turn their dreams into reality, charities supporting their communities, and residents who rely on these spaces to connect, create and feel part of something bigger. Once these spaces are lost it will be even harder to establish new ones. We cannot simply magic them back into existence.
“Edinburgh City Council must act to protect the affordable studios, shared spaces and community spirit that have built our city's culture and made it so valuable. That means keeping our arts venues as welcoming spaces for the public, and ensuring that the spaces that bring people together remain free and accessible."
Q added:
“The public meeting I hosted on Sunday underlined the enormous public support for Summerhall and for the cultural spaces that make Edinburgh the city it is.
“With venues like Summerhall and St Margaret’s House facing closure and arts organisations across the city under mounting pressure, we are at risk of losing a lot of the vital infrastructure that has allowed Edinburgh’s cultural life to thrive and flourish.
“We cannot afford to lose these important spaces and creative pipelines, and we cannot afford to keep losing the spaces that make our city creative, inclusive and alive.
“The cultural crisis we are in can only damage our city’s well-earned international reputation. We cannot celebrate our artists and creators on the world stage while failing to provide them with support and affordable places to work.
“The council and government must step up, protect this vital sector and make sure that the people who create our city’s cultural wealth are not priced out of it.”