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AGENDA news
Redevelopmen
Lottery funding will allow Glasgow's Centre for Contemporary Arts to offer a more flexible programme.
Words Alan Morrison
FIVE PERFORMANCE/EXHIBITION spaces, room for up to a dozen arts organisations, and a more erXible programming strategy have been promised as the Glasgow’s Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA) embarks on a major redevelopment next year.
The Sauchiehall Street building is due to close for extensive structural work in April 1999 and Will reopen in February 2001. The {10.5 million funding package includes £75 million from the Scottish Arts CounCil’s National Lottery fund, the largest Single award ever made by the SAC.
'This building couldn’t continue to function as it was for a number of reasons,’ explains CCA directOr Graham McKenzie. ’There’s no wheelchair access to the performance spaces upstairs, for instance, and the gallery wall needs some structural work.’
McKenzie has emphasised, however, that the redevelopment Wlll encompass much broader issues than Just the ’bricks and mortar'.
'We were finding that the spaces themselves were becoming too restrictive,' he said, 'The CCA has a reputation for working With yOung artists. We gave people like Douglas Gordon their first solo exhibitions, but they were otiickly outgrovving the spaces we could offer. As a result, you were able to see many of these artists around Europe a lot more regularly than yOu w0uld see them in Glasgow.’
Structural changes have been set out, therefore, With a Cultural brief. Instead of rigidly designated performance and exhibition spaces, five areas Will be
'lnstead of having enclosed spaces, we want to allow people a window into the artistic process.’ Graham McKenzie, director, Glasgow CCA
used in a more flexible manner. Meanwhile, an internal walkway inside the budding Will offer audiences and Visitors glimpses of all artistic areas 'lnstead of having enclosed spaces, we want to allow people a Window into the artistic process,’ said McKenzie.
The Sauchiehall Street facade of the building, designed by Alexander ’Greek' Thomson, ‘.\'lll remain generally unchanged, but the CCA is in the process of acquiring properties running along the side of the building, up Scott Street, |.'l( luding the Lime Club This ‘will allow more office space for an assortriient of arts organisations and an extension of the popular cafe-bar, which ‘.\’ill 'spill out' onto Scott Street via a new first-floor entranc
The run-up to closure Will be a key period, according to McKen/ie 'Our artistic policies have to be at their strongest when the building closes, because people have to miss us when we're not around,’ he pointed out
t opens doors for 00A
New moves: CCA to resemble 'arts village’
To this end, the CCA is encouraging artists and writers to vorce their opinions about the new building and :ts programme cubic h Will reinain loyal to experzrnental work in the run-up to the next April and dunng the t\.'.~r)-year period when the CCA \‘."lll be relocated in an as-yet undecided central lt)(<iii()l‘.
'We want to create a situation where the new building :s alrnost like an arts Village in an urban .‘.'.c'r<en/:e suggested 'You can (().’Tt(.‘ in in Me ftlciill‘JTTi am! your tzteaklast and, theoretxahy, you can stay most c:f the day and into the evening \'.’lllilfl the same space and engage in a range of differ'e'it types of work experiences '
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And finally. . . no Brown sugar as the Rolling Stones tax fans’ patience
squash. These days, unlike the Union Jack-waving hordes a la
called Dick Armey before being passed onto Congressman Bob
FINDING A SPOT to watch Scotland’s ’three strikes and you're out' routine in the World Cup is becoming increasingly impossible. Travelling fans face ticket shenanigans, over- zealous policing and transport strikes. If you can't make the trip, there is the pub experience - squeezed in and drenched in booze, while doing irreparable eye damage watching a squint-inducingly tiny screen or focussing on a blurry big one. Or you can watch it in the peace and quiet of your own home. Though the peace could be disrupted as the TV licence people will be making extra calls during the Scotland v Brazil clash. Licence or not, you just know your viewing will be interrupted at the very moment when that last-minute penalty is awarded. Just as well it only comes once every four years.
GETTING TO SEE legendary permy pianist Gilbert O'Sullivan is less of a
22 THE LIST 11—25 Jun 1998
France, Bertie couldn't get arrested. For his first gig in Edinburgh in twenty years, his people booked out the 1000 seater Queen‘s Hall. After a quick rush for the first 44 tickets, that figure took four whole weeks to rocket up to the 50 mark. Which, tragically, is where it ended. Even more tragically, his one memorable hit was entitled Alone Again (Naturally).
THE ROLLING STONES' UK dates, including one at Edinburgh’s Murrayfield Stadium, have been ditched after a tax loophole was closed in the chancellor's latest budget. The band's tax gripe? They were going to have to pay some. Those few hours spent holed up in a hotel with Lady Thatcher earlier this year appear to have paid off for Mick Jagger.
IN THE WAKE of the demise of Ol' Blue Eyes, sad news arrives regarding another reactionary old
No satisfaction: Jagger in tax misery
fool. Mr Bob Hope. Despite reports to the contrary, the man of a million gags is not dead. The story was picked up erroneously by a man
Stump for an announcement. Dick and Stumpy - surely a ready-made punchline for another hilarious Hope golfing anecdote.
SEAN CONNERY, ANOTHER man with his fair share of golfing anecdotes, is still being used as a pawn in the 'pea-shooters at dawn’ playground warfare between the Nats and New Labour. The SNP are aiming to challenge the government's policy of revealing the source of political donations. The Nationalists suspect poor Sean wasn’t given his knighthood due to his SNP leanings and fear similar treatment will be dished out to others. But this leaves them as one of only three UK political parties opposing legislation to outlaw foreign funding. The Nationalists will be delighted to be slinking under the sheets with the DUP and Sinn Fein, I’m sure.
(Brian Donaldson)