Профсоюз в Шотландии потребовал приостановить продажу здания бывшей арт-галереи

A grantmaker in Scotland has met a trade union group that opposed its sale of a former contemporary arts centre. Creative Scotland today said its board would respond to the Scottish Trade Unions Congress (STUC) after it received a letter objecting to the sale of 350 Sauchiehall Street. Glasgow’s Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA) charity formerly operated there but was placed into administration on 30 January, with a liquidator appointed on 6 February. In its February announcement, Creative Scotland said it would aim to reopen the centre as a cultural resource. But the public body, which distributes Scottish government and National Lottery funding, said today that expressions of interest for the building’s lease or sale were being considered. “We will issue an update on next steps, soon,” the charity added. Expressions of interest in the Sauchiehall Street premises closed on 12 August. CCA shut after a period of “significant risk and financial volatility”, the charity’s most recent accounts revealed. The former charity’s total income for 2023-24 was £1.37m, down from £1.43m the year prior, with its expenditure exceeding this at £1.64m. Union group outlines grievances The STUC said that the former site of the CCA was put up for sale by Creative Scotland despite “deep concerns” from workers over a lack of engagement and transparency. It requested, in a letter delivered in person last Thursday, that the Creative Scotland board suspend the sale process and open a public consultation into the future of the site. The Scottish Artists Union, Society of Authors and Scottish Society of Playwrights were among those who signed the letter. Roz Foyer, STUC general secretary, said: “Throughout this process, Creative Scotland have fell short of the demands of the sector. “We are clear: 350 Sauchiehall Street must remain in public hands, with the workforce that underpins any new ownership of the venue subject to fair work terms and conditions,” Foyer added.