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It comes after ministers confirmed that Creative Scotland is seeking to sell the 350 Sauchiehall Street building following the collapse of the CCA into insolvency.
The CCA has been a vital part of Glasgow’s cultural life for more than three decades, supporting independent artists, community organisations and experimental work that is too often pushed to the margins.
Scottish Greens MSP for Glasgow, Patrick Harvie MSP, said:
“The CCA was at the heart of Glasgow’s cultural life for decades. It supported countless artists, audiences and communities who are too often ignored by a culture sector that is being squeezed from every side.
“Commitments were given to Parliament by Creative Scotland, and Mairi McAllan’s priority now must be protecting the building for artists, workers and the communities who have made it what it is.
“This is a critical first test for the new Culture Secretary - will she put the public interest first and secure an artist-led and worker-led future for the site, or will she flog it off?
“We need serious engagement with the former CCA workers, as well as the theatre companies, artists and cultural organisations who are trying to build a future for the site.
“Selling the building at 350 Sauchiehall Street would be a serious failure if such an important public and cultural asset was simply left to the market. Warm words about wanting it to remain an arts venue are not enough, the Scottish Government, along with Creative Scotland, needs to show how it will guarantee that future.
“When Creative Scotland gave evidence to Parliament earlier this year, it made clear that the aim was to reopen the building for the long term, and that commitment cannot be allowed to disappear into a sales process.”
Patrick added:
“Glasgow has already lost too many community spaces, venues and cultural institutions. We cannot allow another one to be put at risk and sold off to the highest bidder.
“The CCA building must not be treated as yet another asset to be stripped from public life. It must be protected as a public, accessible and properly supported cultural space for Glasgow and for Scotland, so that our world-class arts sector can reach the potential I know it has.”
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