GLASGOW’S Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA) reopened yesterday, four months after it was forced to close following the second fire at Glasgow School of Art (GSA).
After rumours that the CCA might never reopen proved unfounded, the Sauchiehall Street centre returned to business as usual at noon and welcomed members of the public who had been waiting patiently for the doors to be unlocked.
CCA communications manager Julie Cathcart said: “There’s been so much support from the public, it’s just nice to finally be able to welcome everybody back into the building.”
It had been suggested that the CCA would have issues reopening because of both financial and safety concerns, with Glasgow City Council having been unable to give a definitive answer as to when the reopening could take place.
“We were very much on a financial knife edge at one point, but it’s great to put that behind us and look to the future of the CCA,” said Cathcart.
“We had so much support, from so many venues in the city, from the Lighthouse, to the Seamore Neighbourhood Cinema. Kinning Park Complex also took events. Waterstones were happy to help as well.” The reopening was finally given the go-ahead after workers on the GSA site successfully stabilised the west gable of the fire-ravaged Mackintosh building, installing an additional protective passageway leading from the CCA’s Scott Street fire exit.
Some 400 shows and events had to be cancelled or moved during the closure. The events programme is scheduled to begin on Tuesday and will include Jonas Staal’s Scottish Parliament exhibition and Shireen Taylor’s Time Management show.
On Friday, Scottish music legends Teenage Fanclub will play an intimate sell-out gig at the venue.
Cathcart added: “We just want to say a huge thanks to everyone that supported us throughout the closure. It was absolutely amazing.”
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