Media Release in response to today’s announcement by Glasgow School of Art regarding the Mackintosh Building, 22nd July 2026
Please note: This is an interim reactive release. A more detailed response to GSAs Strategic Outline Business Case Addendum Report and other public statements will be released following a meeting of the Society’s Buildings and Interiors sub-group on Friday 24th July, 2026.
The Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society welcomes today’s announcement from Glasgow School of Art regarding the faithful reinstatement of the Mackintosh Building. The initial plan to better stabilise and protect the building, while making it visible once again to the public, is a good first step towards full reinstatement.
The Society supports Glasgow School of Art’s proposal to explore a partnership-based approach to the rebuild allowing it to focus on its world-class work as an education and research organisation. The Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society looks forward to working with Glasgow School of Art and other heritage and cultural partners to ensure the reinstatement of the building.
However, it is a great shame that funding is not immediately available to rebuild. The Society strongly urges governments at Holyrood and Westminster, alongside Glasgow City Council and others to work together to fund reinstatement of the building. Other countries have succeeded in swift reconstruction of their iconic heritage sites and Scotland can and must do better. Funders should recognise that the Mackintosh Building is the most significant Scottish architecture and design work of the 20th century. The reinstatement of the Mack as the anchor project in the creation of a wider innovation district will ensure a brighter future for Scotland’s economy across education, creative and tourism sectors.
For generations the Mackintosh Building has been at the centre of Scotland’s cultural life, inspiring artists, architects and designers. It has been at the heart of Glasgow’s reputation as an internationally important city for the arts as well as a destination for students and visitors from around the world. If Scotland is to retain its position as one of the pre-eminent centres of international cultural production and attract inward investment then the full reinstatement of the Mackintosh Building must be made a national priority.
Quotations:
Matthew Williams, Director of the Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society said:
‘I welcome Glasgow School of Art’s announcement today and the Society looks forward to playing its part in the future reinstatement of the Mackintosh Building.
‘I call upon UK and Scottish governments to work with Glasgow City Council and others to provide focus and funding for the project. The Mackintosh Building has been at the heart of Britain’s cultural life for over a century and it should be rebuilt as soon as possible. Today is an important first step.
Michael Dale, Chairman of the Council of the Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society said:
‘It is good to finally see progress toward reinstatement of the Mackintosh Building. For too long its future has been uncertain. The public are crying out for it to be rebuilt and governments must now seize the opportunity to reinstate this iconic building.
‘As custodians of Mackintosh Queen’s Cross the Society sees hundreds of international visitors who continue to be disappointed that rebuilding the Mack is not already underway. The Society will support the reinstatement of the building in any way that it can’
Notes to Editors are available on request.