Campaigners Fight to Keep CCA Archive Intact

Campaigners, politicians and arts organisations are calling on the Scottish government to secure the future of Glasgow's Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA) archive after it was listed among the assets of the insolvent organisation, raising concerns that the collection could be dispersed during liquidation. Protesters gathered outside the CCA last week under the banner "Stop the Sale".

The archive spans more than 50 years of Scotland's contemporary art history, documenting the activities of both the CCA and its predecessor, the Third Eye Centre. It includes exhibition records, photographs, posters, films and other ephemera recording the development of Glasgow's contemporary cultural scene.

Creative Scotland said it is working with Glasgow Life and the Ballast Trust to explore ways of preserving the archive and keeping it accessible to the public in Glasgow. MB Valuations, the firm appointed by the liquidators, has said it is seeking advice on the collection's future and is inviting expressions of interest from institutions, rather than including the archive in the wider sale of the organisation's furniture and equipment.

Amanda Catto, a former portfolio manager at Creative Scotland, warned that the archive represents more than half a century of Scotland's contemporary cultural history and questioned what protections exist for the documentary record of nationally significant arts organisations if they become insolvent. Scottish Liberal Democrat culture spokesperson David Green MSP has also called for the archive to remain intact, urging ministers to protect what he described as an important cultural asset.

The dispute follows the collapse of the CCA earlier this year after a prolonged period of financial difficulties. The organisation entered liquidation in January, resulting in the loss of all staff. Creative Scotland, which owns the Sauchiehall Street building, has since announced plans to sell the property. Last week, the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator concluded its inquiry into the charity's governance without taking further regulatory action.