Push The Boat Out (PTBO) has been forced to delay its programme launch after venue Summerhall received a winding up petition from HMRC. While organisers still plan for the festival to go ahead, the launch will be delayed until they can ‘establish more clarity and investigate potential solutions’.

According to a statement from Summerhall, the petition relates to unpaid corporation tax, a claim that the arts venue disputes. Summerhall Arts, the independent charity responsible for arts spaces within the building, is unaffected by this action against the building. Sam Gough, chief executive of Summerhall Management and Summerhall Arts, told The Scotsman, ‘We are taking legal advice on what we can and can’t do. During this process, which could take a number of weeks, it means that some things will be able to go ahead, some things will have to go ahead differently and some things will have to be cancelled.’ 

Robert McDowell, the director of Summerhall Management Ltd, wrote on Instagram, ‘Summerhall Management has had a winding up petition presented against it by HMRC. The petition is in relation to unpaid Corporation Tax. We believe there is no corporation tax due to HMRC and have been working with professional advisors to address and resolve matters with HMRC. Summerhall Management are defending the proceedings raised and we hope a resolution can be achieved which will allow us to deal with this and move on quickly.

‘At this time, we must follow a very strict set of guidelines imposed upon us of what we can and cannot do, please bear with us whilst we work to fully understand the situation. The team are already in communication with those we work with who may be affected by this action, but we intend to trade as best we can, and in line with what is permissible, whilst we defend this action.

‘The landlord, on whose behalf we manage the building, have also been made aware and will be in direct communication with their tenants as required.’

PTBO is the first arts organisation to have discussed how the winding up petition directly impacts its plans. Here’s the press release from PTBO in full: ‘You may have seen an update from Summerhall Management Ltd confirming that it has been presented with a winding up petition by HMRC. The company plans to appeal the decision but its operations will be impacted while this legal action is underway.

‘News of this development emerged just two days before we were due to launch Push The Boat Out, Edinburgh’s International Poetry Festival, which has 130 artists booked to appear as part of 54 events from 22-24 November This had an immediate impact on our ability to sell tickets though Summerhall, while also raising questions about the venue. We took the difficult decision to delay announcing the programme and putting tickets on sale while we establish more clarity and investigate potential solutions.

‘As a small charity, this is a hugely challenging development and we are deeply concerned about what it means for our festival, the artists involved, our partners and audiences. We are working hard to ensure that the festival can go ahead, either at Summerhall or in an alternative venue and we will share our plans as soon as possible.’ 

This has been a tumultuous year for Summerhall, after owners of the building (Isle of Man-based Oesselmann Estates Limited) decided to put it up for sale, jeopardising its use as a hub for the arts. The venue was pulled from that cliff edge after owners offered Summerhall Arts a three-year lease, and a crowdfunding initiative titled ‘Help us preserve the future of the arts and events at Summerhall’ was set in motion. At the time of the crowdfunder’s launch, Gough told us, ‘This is about a preservation and the opportunity to continue what we’re doing.’ Summerhall is home to more than 120 businesses and freelancers.