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Campaigners Fight Sale of Glasgow's Centre for Contemporary Arts and Archive

cultural-heritage · 2026-08-03

A coalition of artists, politicians, and advocates is striving to halt the sale of the Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA) building and its archival collection in Glasgow, citing concerns over the potential erosion of Scotland's cultural legacy. The CCA, which shut its doors permanently in January due to financial difficulties, has left its Sauchiehall Street site and archives in limbo. Originally home to the Third Eye Centre since 1974, the CCA took over in 1991 and has hosted numerous prominent figures. The archives, which encompass more than 50 years of cultural history, are slated for liquidation. While Creative Scotland intends to sell or lease the property, it hopes to preserve the archives. On July 31, protests erupted, demanding the cessation of the sale and advocating for public access.

Key facts

  • Glasgow's Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA) closed permanently in January due to financial troubles.
  • The CCA building and archive are up for sale, with offers due by August 14.
  • The archive includes materials from the CCA and its predecessor, the Third Eye Centre, spanning over 50 years.
  • Creative Scotland owns the building and announced plans to sell or lease it.
  • Creative Scotland stated it will work with Glasgow Life and the Ballast Trust to keep archives complete and public.
  • An auction of CCA furniture and equipment sold items for as little as £1.
  • Protesters demonstrated on July 31, and a petition demands stopping the sale and maintaining public ownership.
  • Scottish Parliament member Paul Sweeney called for urgent clarification and nonprofit leasing.
  • Artists Tanoa Sasraku and Karla Black voiced opposition, citing loss of cultural infrastructure and opportunities.
  • The building previously housed the Third Eye Centre, founded in 1974 by Tom McGrath.

Entities

Artists

  • Tom McGrath
  • Whoopi Goldberg
  • Allen Ginsberg
  • Steven Campbell
  • Ken Currie
  • Janine Antoni
  • Tanoa Sasraku
  • Karla Black

Institutions

  • Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA)
  • Third Eye Centre
  • Creative Scotland
  • Glasgow Life
  • Ballast Trust
  • MB Valuation
  • Save Our CCA
  • Glasgow School of Art
  • MB Valuations
  • Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator
  • Scottish Liberal Democrats
  • The Art Newspaper

Locations

  • Glasgow
  • Scotland
  • Sauchiehall Street

Sources