Edinburgh has for decades been a contested ground between locals, tourists, arts promoters and corporate interests, and sometimes all it takes is for the wrong shot to fire to anger all sides. That’s exactly what’s happened this week, as the beloved venue Summerhall went up for sale. The controversial decision, made by Isle of Man-based Oesselmann Estates Limited, has highlighted how precarious arts and culture is, even in a city renowned for having one of the biggest cultural events in the world.

In a change from our usual column, we’ll be giving you the rundown on how this story has developed throughout the week. Speaking of which, news as vital as this has highlighted the skill of Edinburgh’s leading journalistic lights, not least Michael Macleod for The Edinburgh Minute and Brian Ferguson for The Scotsman. Much of the information below has been reported on with depth and finesse across the past week from these two sources.

Shock in Edinburgh as Summerhall goes up for sale… 

… although owners of the premises have stated that ‘the arts are front and centre of any decisions that may be made in the future’.

While the building will be sold with current leases intact, major concerns have been raised by the listing on commercial property site Cuthbert White claiming refurbishment options include ‘residential, galleries and entertainment spaces, boutique hotels, offices, studios, and student housing’. 

Major cultural figures on Twitter expressed their disappointment in the news: 

After a day of speculation, executives at the venue clarified the sale. Here’s the full statement from Summerhall’s Chief Executive, Sam Gough: 

‘The whole of the team here at Summerhall, who deliver the busy and vibrant programme of events, community projects, visual arts exhibitions, and our incredible Fringe programme, are committed to the long-term survival of the immensely important cultural work that was started here in 2011. 

‘The building is being sold with leases intact so over 100+ artists, small businesses and companies that work out of Summerhall will remain. Our annual programme of events and the Fringe in 2024 will not be affected.

‘The building has only just been put on sale and to clarify some speculation, it has not been sold. We look forward to working with the agent and any potential new owners to ensure the arts are front and centre of any decisions that may be made in the future for this now iconic arts campus.’

‘Robert our founder and director of Summerhall, is fully committed to this ambitious project, that he bravely started 13 years ago in the spirit of the original 1947 festival, which is to heal the wounds of conflict through the language of the arts.’

Summerhall Founder & Director Robert McDowell, added, ‘When much else in life is uncertain and filled with warring, when the healing balms of the arts are in highest demand, it is troubling for much-loved, dare I say famous, Summerhall to go through the property market wringer!  Against my personal wishes, the decision was made to put the premises up for sale.

‘My hope is that we come through this intact and able to continue as before, perhaps even better? We proved ourselves a valuable part of what makes Edinburgh a great city and fully international. We are honoured that there is so much love and support, let us hope for the best.’

As well as establishing itself as one of the more innovative venues during the Festival, Summerhall has been a beacon for culture in Edinburgh all year round since its redevelopment in 2011.

Its potential loss as an arts institution has galvanised locals into action, prompting an online petition which has amassed more than 10,000 signatures in only a few days, and prompting SNP councillor Tommy Sheppard to urge Edinburgh’s council into forming a plan that ensures the location remains a febrile arts environment for years to come.

‘It’s crucially important that any sale has at its heart the ecosystem that Summerhall supports and the huge contribution it makes to the cultural landscape of Edinburgh,’ wrote Sheppard in an open letter to Labour council leader Cammy Day. ‘If your officials determine any constraints to them fulfilling this task and have suggestions of legislation that could be amended in order to reach this goal, I’d be grateful if you could let me know what these are in some detail and I’d be happy to raise this will the Scottish Government alongside council representations.’

One of the joys of writing about the Festival, and Edinburgh culture more broadly, has been finding out the new ways Summerhall has used its space and its platform to form progressive policies that will benefit the arts. The start of the venue’s Support The Artist scheme last year nudged other organisations into letting customers contribute directly to the livelihood of performers when they purchased their tickets, while its artist development initiatives have gone some ways to fostering new shows. In an increasingly corporate city, a visit to Summerhall has been a refreshing haven, clearly valuing art before profit. Edinburgh will be a poorer city without it. 

A final word from Summerhall, who are approaching the news with a ‘use it or lose it’ attitude. ‘Thank you for your tremendous support,’ the venue wrote in a statement published on social media. ‘From your petitions to messages to action groups - in light of the news yesterday, we truly appreciate it and are heartened to see such an outpouring of love for Summerhall.

‘To restate - we’re still here and still going! Our year-round and Fringe programmes are all on-sale. The *best* way people can support Summerhall and the artists is to buy tickets to events, attend the exhibitions and to visit the pub. We are not going anywhere.’

The full Summerhall Fringe programme, which we reported on last week, is available to view on the venue’s official site. 

We’ll see you again next week for a (hopefully) more positive edition of our Festival round-up.