MEDIA RELEASE From: The Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society Re: Glasgow School of Art, Mackintosh Building
The Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society is calling for the rebuilding of The Glasgow School of Art’s Mackintosh Building under a new model of custodianship.
Last week, The Glasgow School of Art announced that ‘the current governance, management and delivery model for the Mackintosh Building Project is not sustainable alongside GSAs primary purpose’ admitting that they are unable to faithfully reinstate the internationally important Mackintosh Building without ‘an appropriate external partnership vehicle’. Understandably this led to an outcry from the public alongside both critical and constructive commentary, with many people afraid that the Mackintosh Building might never be rebuilt.
[Strategic Outline Business Case Addendum (SOBCA) p16, sections 1.13 and 1.14]
The Glasgow School of Art also stated that the Mackintosh Building is no longer a necessary part of their operations as a functioning art school, noting that it ‘has demonstrated that it can continue to deliver its core purpose while the building remains unavailable,’ giving the impression that this magnificent building no longer plays a role in their success as an educational institution. These revelations significantly change the view of the Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society regarding the future custodianship of the building.
[SOBCA, p11, section 1.5]
The Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society Director, Matthew Williams, said: “For over 50 years the Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society has championed, protected and promoted the work of Mackintosh and his contemporaries. We are the only organisation dedicated solely to Mackintosh and his legacy. “The Society’s members and expert advisors continue to agree with the prevailing public opinion that the only acceptable course of action for the Mackintosh Building is reconstruction. My view is that the Society, as an independent membership organisation, is in the best position to galvanise support and bring together under one banner those who want the Mackintosh Building restored to its rightful place as Scotland’s finest twentieth century building. Over the coming weeks the Society will form an international pressure group to lobby for exactly that. “I understand and support the need for The Glasgow School of Art to focus on its internationally renowned teaching and research. However, in respect of the Mackintosh Building, and given its recent statements, the GSA no longer has the credibility to spearhead a world-class reconstruction project.” [ends]
In last week’s announcement The Glasgow School of Art repeatedly called for substantial external partnership in order to faithfully reinstate the Mackintosh Building. The Society agrees that this is the best strategic option and asks that the GSA now engage in a meaningful process to transfer the custodial responsibility of the building to a newly formed independent Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV). This new body, formed of heritage building experts and major project specialists, would have responsibility for the reconstruction of the building. It would guide that process, and be empowered to lobby for funding, with a constitutional responsibility to return the building to the nation once the project is complete.
Matthew Williams said: “The Society will shortly release a vision statement for the Mackintosh Building and seek support for its position from organisations, businesses and individuals. Following that our team will work with others to develop a strategy and action plan, creating a platform for constructive engagement with concerned members of the public, the creative industries, and potential funders. The Glasgow School of Art will be part of that process, but there is a sense from all quarters that the organisation should no longer decide the future of the Mackintosh Building.” [ends]
The Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society has an existing committee made up of leaders in heritage architecture, building conservation and curation, many of whom have worked extensively on the Mackintosh Building in the past and have a deep connection to the building. They will be sharing their expert advice with the Society’s trustees prior to the formation of the SPV in the coming year. An open call for SPV members and partners will be part of that process.
Matthew Williams said: “The Mackintosh Building is important for the creative soul of the nation, a cornerstone of Scotland’s cultural leadership, and a place of pilgrimage for visitors from around the world: it can and must be restored” [ends]
Chairman of Trustees, Michael Dale added: “For over a century, the Mackintosh Building embodied Glasgow’s industrial dynamism and international cultural importance. It was Glasgow’s creative spirit made manifest. “The Society wants to bring people together to get the Mackintosh Building restored. Trustees will be in touch with organisations, businesses and individuals in the coming weeks setting out the Society’s vision and asking them to support it. We want to harness the enormous passion for the Mackintosh Building and create an international network of allies before developing a strategy. “After that the Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society will provide opportunities for all voices to be heard, shape the strategic vision, and help to determine the future direction of the campaign. We will work as quickly as we can but with consideration and diligence to create an inclusive, solid foundation for partnership over the years ahead.” [ends]
Those interested can become members of the Society by visiting crmsociety.com
Background notes:
The Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society:
The Society was founded in 1973 by experts and enthusiastic champions of the work of Charles Rennie Mackintosh and his contemporaries. It formed out of necessity as building work in the city, including development of the motorways, threatened the destruction of Martyrs’ School (already the subject of a demolition order), Scotland Street School and Queen’s Cross Church. In a large part thanks to the tireless work of the Society, all three buildings were saved. For over 50 years the Society has continued to champion, celebrate, monitor and safeguard Mackintosh’s heritage estate and collections. It is now headquartered at Mackintosh Queen’s Cross, the only Mackintosh church in the world, completed in 1899 while Mackintosh was completing plans for The Mackintosh Building. The Society took over the building from the Church of Scotland in the late 1970s and has owned it since 1999. The Society is a company and registered charity. It is not in receipt of regular public sector funding and relies on membership fees, project funding, and commercial income.
The Society’s Buildings & Interiors Group:
This is the expert committee referred to above that monitors the entire Mackintosh built heritage. It commissioned a survey of every building and monument in 2015 and works with building custodians to offer advice and ensure that they have access to professional networks to assist them. Members are:
• Peter Ranson (Chair), Worked for Historic Environment Scotland for almost 25 years as District Architect, latterly covering the Scottish Borders, Falkirk and the Lothians. He led on numerous complex heritage building projects including giving advice on grant-aided work at Queens Cross Church and Glasgow School of Art up to 2014.
• Liz Davidson, Project Director for the National Trust for Scotland, leading The Hill House restoration. Board Director at Glasgow Building Preservation Trust which she previously led, before becoming Head of Heritage and Design at Glasgow City Council and Senior Project Manager at the Glasgow School of Art.
• John Brown, RIBA Specialist Conservation Architect, and Employee Elected Director at Page\Park. He leads the conservation team who previously worked on the post-2015 Mack restoration. John also teaches at Strathclyde University.
• Robyne Calvert, Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and Cultural Historian at the University of Glasgow, author of award-winning book The Mack published by Yale University Press in 2024 and was the Mackintosh Research Fellow at the Glasgow School of Art from 2015-2021.
• Joseph Sharples, Curator of Mackintosh Collections and Applied Art at The Hunterian, and co-author of the most comprehensive survey of Mackintosh’s architecture available through online resource: mackintosharchitecture.gla.ac.uk
• John Sanders, Partner at Simpson & Brown, a leader in heritage architecture conservation and consultation nationwide. John is a project leader, designer and heritage consultant and was instrumental in the reinstatement of the Willow Tearooms (Mackintosh Tearooms)
• Paul Sweeney, Labour MSP for Glasgow (Region), Shadow Minister for Business and Fair Work and Veterans, and a champion of Glasgow’s heritage through roles including Trustee of The Egyptian Halls (SCIO) and Trustee and Director of Glasgow City Heritage Trust.
Other active specialist members:
• Lesley Kerr, Chair, Mackintosh Queen’s Cross Building Fabric Group, Former heritage buildings consultant, and Associate Architect at Simpson & Brown. Lesley has 30 years of experience working with Category A public buildings. She currently oversees renovations at Mackintosh Queen’s Cross
• Peter Trowles, former Trustee, Formerly Mackintosh Curator at the Glasgow School of Art for 31 years, ex-President and co-founder of the Réseau Art Nouveau Network – a pan-European project involving cities with an art nouveau legacy
• Graeme Nicholls, Trustee, Award-winning Founding Director of Graeme Nicholls Architects. Originator of a recent exhibition at Mackintosh Queen’s Cross drawing parallels between the Willow Tearoom and Alvaro Siza’s Casa de Chá da Boa Nova in Porto.
• Roger Billcliffe, Honorary President, Curator and Gallerist, former Director of the Fine Art Society, art collections lead at the University of Glasgow, and Keeper of Fine Art at Glasgow Museums. Author of numerous authoritative books about Mackintosh and his contemporaries, including Charles Rennie Mackintosh: The Complete Furniture, Furniture Drawings and Interior Designs
For further information or clarification please contact Matthew Williams, Director via matthew@crmsociety.com or 07813 917388 (WhatsApp best in first instance), or Society Chair, Michael Dale via michael@crmsociety.com