Opposition concerning the sale of the Centre of Contemporary Arts (CCA).
- Jul 10
- 2 min read
I have recently written to the Scottish Government to oppose the sale of the Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA) building, and to urge them to intervene and ensure that this vital cultural asset remains in public ownership.
I have laid out my concerns and objections in my letter to the Cabinet Secretary for Education, Culture and Gaelic below. If you agree, please submit your own letter to CabSecforECG@gov.scot.
The full text of my objection letter is below. You are welcome to use any or all parts of it in drafting your own letter.
St. Andrew's House
Regent Road
Edinburgh
EH1 3DG
10th July 2026
OPPOSITION CONCERNING THE PROPSED SALE OF THE CENTRE FOR CONTEMPORARY ARTS (CCA).
Dear Ms McAllan,
I am writing to express my strong opposition to the proposed sale of the Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA) building at 350 Sauchiehall Street and to urge the Scottish Government to intervene to ensure that this vital cultural asset remains in public ownership.
I was deeply saddened by the closure of the CCA in January 2026 and the loss of employment of the thirty-nine staff members who were made redundant as a result. Equally concerning were the reports regarding the way in which these staff were informed - with little notice of closure and lack of clear communication around redundancy processes.
The CCA has been one of Glasgow's most important cultural institutions since opening in 1992. For more than three decades it has provided a platform for artists, performers, community groups and creative organisations, while contributing significantly to the city's cultural reputation. The loss would therefore represent a major setback for Glasgow's arts sector and cultural landscape.
Furthermore, the building, which is Category A-listed, has a long history of public ownership, being owned by the Scottish Arts Council, and subsequently Creative Scotland, since the early 1970’s. This long-standing principle of public ownership should be retained, and I wish to see a continued commitment to public stewardship and recognition of the building as a community asset.
While I recognise the financial challenges that led to the organisation's collapse, I do not believe that selling the building is the best solution. Creative Scotland itself has previously stated that the shared aim should be for the centre to reopen as a cultural resource as soon as possible. The current proposal risks placing a nationally significant cultural venue beyond the reach of the public and the arts sector.
Instead, I urge you to work with Creative Scotland, Glasgow City Council, relevant arts organisations and former staff to establish a clear and actionable timetable for reopening the CCA. This should focus on securing a sustainable future for the building as a functioning arts space.
Ultimately, I hope you will seriously consider this issue and halt any sale process until all viable options for retaining the building as a public asset have been fully explored.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Yours sincerely,
Paul Sweeney MSP
Member of the Scottish Parliament for Glasgow Region
(Scottish Labour and Co-operative Party)
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