The proposed sale of Summerhall, Edinburgh’s iconic arts building and multipurpose venue, spread shockwaves across the city’s cultural community and the wider world when it was announced in May. As Mark Cousins wrote on X, ‘So Summerhall is up for sale, might become offices or student flats. One of the biggest private arts centres in Europe. When it opened I could hardly believe it […] No venue in my life has made me shape shift more. It gave Edinburgh edge, astringency. A city needs those things.’ 

The journey to maintain Summerhall as a major cultural institution continued today with confirmation that owners have offered the arts centre a three-year lease which is expected to be signed soon. 

On the same day, the venue opened a fundraiser on JustGiving titled ‘Help us preserve the future of the arts and events at Summerhall’ with the stark message, ‘This is a critical time; we desperately need to raise funds to preserve the annual programme of the arts and events at Summerhall following the announcement of the building being sold.’ 

Sam Gough, Chief Executive Officer of Summerhall, told us, ‘When this building went on sale in May, it became clear that our tenancy was going to end either this year or next, and it wasn’t clear whether or not that tenancy would be renewed or renegotiated. And once it had been renegotiated, it would be too late for us to preserve any of the artistic programming. So we’ve been working since May to uncover a different vehicle that will deliver the arts long term. Because property time is so slow, and our survival time is so short, we needed to find a bridge.’ 

That bridge has proven to be Summerhall Arts, a registered charity which will take on the ‘ambitious programme of professional development and artist support for the sector,’ and which donations from JustGiving will help facilitate. 

As Gough argues, ‘We are just such a central point of the community. It's not just the theatre, it's not just the weddings we put on, it's all these vital community connections that they have, including community choirs and Street Fit, which helps people with addiction issues get a workout. People come and sit in here, feel safe, have a pint or a cup of coffee and chat with their pals.

‘This is a hugely positive thing and it’s the only way we can go forward. This is about a preservation and the opportunity to continue what we’re doing. This way, with proper funding, we have (at least) the opportunity to have a conversation with the new owners.’ 

Read more about Summerhall's plans and donate to the crowdfunder here; main picture: Peter Dibdin.