The Lighthouse Building, Glasgow, Scotland's Centre for Architecture, News, Exhibitions

The Lighthouse Glasgow : Information + Images

Scotland’s National Architecture and Design Centre, UK : News re the future of the building
 

19 Mar 2010 GLASGOW CITY COUNCIL SEEKS TO SECURE FUTURE OF THE LIGHTHOUSE Glasgow City Council today unveiled plans to secure the future of Charles Rennie Mackintosh's Lighthouse building as Scotland's National Centre for Architecture and Design. Principal to the five-storey building's future is the positive discussion held with the Scottish Executive and Architecture and Design Scotland that will see them expand their presence in the Lighthouse and their range of activities. image : David Churchill One of the Council's first priorities is to populate the centre with tenants while being mindful of the need to strike an appropriate balance between commercial and sponsored activities (significant funding was originally received from Heritage Lottery Fund, Arts Lottery and European Regional Development Fund to establish a cultural centre promoting architecture and design.) There are also plans to install a bookshop on the ground floor dedicated to architecture and design, something which Glasgow's design community says is needed in the city centre following the closure of the Borders bookshop in December. The permanent Rennie Mackintosh exhibition remains on the third floor and it is hoped that the other galleries and display spaces can be used as temporary exhibition space which amongst other things may display objects from the Museum of Transport while it relocates to its new riverside location. There are also plans for a semi permanent exhibition on Glasgow. Cordia, the council's arms length company that provides facilities management, catering, hospitality and cleaning services, has taken over the running of the bistro on the fifth floor that affords views of the city centre skyline. image : David Churchill Councillor George Ryan, executive member for business and the economy, said: "From the outset of the Lighthouse Trust's financial troubles the Council has always said that it would investigate all the options to keep the Lighthouse financially viable and open for business. It is an important base for Glasgow and the country's cultural industries and we were keen not to lose this. "This new financial year, 2010 to 2011, will be a still be a transitional period for the Lighthouse but we have already accepted conference and event bookings for this year and are buoyed by the considerable support we have received from the architecture and design community across Scotland. "Long-term we are keen to see the Lighthouse operate on a robust commercial basis and we are currently developing a year business plan that will cover the next three years. The Council and a reference group of people from within the Scottish creative industry community are helping us to evaluate a range of measures including introducing incubator units for fledgling design companies, gallery and exhibition space , a new bookshop and housing commercial tenants." The Council's plan to revert to the original vision for the Lighthouse and consolidate its core business comes after the Lighthouse Trust that had operated the building since 1999 went into administration in November, last year On completion of the administration process the lease of the Lighthouse building and those of the tenants reverted to the Council, as owners of the building. With its financial and staff resources and experience in operating properties across the city, the Council is in a good position to support the Lighthouse and drive forward future plans. image : David Churchill In addition, with their wealth of experience in attracting and hosting major conferences and events to the city Glasgow City Marketing Bureau will provide marketing support for Lighthouse events and services. The Council is also keen to see a charitable organisation take over the 'head' lease and operate the property as a partnership with the Council that would mean that the building would be exempt from business rates and help to reduce operating overheads. Discussions are underway with Culture and Sport Glasgow regarding this proposal. The Lighthouse Building Glasgow information from Glasgow City Council 190310 The Lighthouse Glasgow - News Update 11 Nov 2009 A+DS @ The Lighthouse Architecture + Design Scotland to take on (former) Lighthouse Trust employees and programmes. This will include its education and ACCESS national programme and Sust. The Lighthouse will continue as Scotland’s national centre for architecture and design. Glasgow architect Alan Dunlop commented re The Lighthouse Glasgow to e-architect that "It's very disappointing for architecture in Scotland and for Scottish Architects and makes me question our government's supposed commitment to supporting architecture as something of real cultural significance. My own feeling is that the difficulties relate not to finance, direction or the cost of many worthwhile exhibitions but stem from the decision to use Mackintosh's Herald Building as the centre. It proved very difficult to use as a flexible exhibition space and was hard for visitors to find. I think that was the root of the problem. "The Directors and staff have had to compete with the limitations of the building and they have done that successfully for there have been brilliant exhibitions over the last ten years. The Lighthouse is recognised internationally as an Architecture Centre of stature it would be awful for Scotland if that was lost." The Lighthouse Glasgow - Funding News lighthouse glasgow photo © adrian welch Glasgow Architecture venuw scoops another £1m from the Scottish Executive despite recent creation of Architecture + Design Scotland - AD+S. 1 Apr 2005 Housed in a building partly designed by Rennie Mackintosh The Lighthouse Glasgow : Building Description image : David Churchill The Lighthouse Glasgow - Virtual Architecture Centre PR : 17 Apr 2001

The Lighthouse - Glasgow Herald Building

Glasgow Buildings

Lighthouse Glasgow - Sust

For current Glasgow Debates + Exhibitions see Glasgow Talks

The Lighthouse Achievement Award

Scottish Architecture

Scottish Architects of the past

Glasgow Architecture : homepage

Comments / photos for the The Lighthouse Glasgow Building page welcome:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

The Lighthouse Building Scotland - page : adrian welch / isabelle lomholt