A RUNDOWN warehouse is being transformed into a cutting-edge £8.5million arts centre in an ambitious project described as being "like nothing else in Europe".
£8.5m centre will bring city groups together
A RUNDOWN warehouse is being transformed into a cutting-edge £8.5million arts centre in an ambitious project described as being "like nothing else in Europe".
The Evening Times was given exclusive access behind the scaffolding of Trongate 103.
The B-listed red sandstone Edwardian building in the Merchant City will open in the autumn as the home for eight artist collectives.
It will boast six storeys of studio accommodation, exhibition and storage spaces.
It will also have a bohemian cafe - Café Cossachok - which will move from its old Albion Street site.
The floorspace of 7913sqm is similar to Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.
Architect Paul Mohan, of Elder and Cannon said: "It is a one-off. I don't think there's anything like it in Glasgow.
"One of the council chaps said there's nothing in Europe like it in the way that it has gallery and workshop space together with so many different organisations."
The project is a partnership between the city council, Culture and Sport Glasgow and eight Merchant City-based arts organisations, including Sharmanka Kinetic Theatre, Glasgow Media Access Centre, Glasgow Print Studio, Glasgow Independent Studios, Street Level Photoworks, and The Russian Cultural Centre.
It will also be home to Transmission Gallery, name-checked in Franz Ferdinand's Do You Want To and supported by Oscar-winner Tilda Swinton and a launch pad of Turner Prize-winner Douglas Gordon.
Transmission will have a basement packed with work from its 25 years, and will reopen with an exhibition of work by celebrated German artist Klaus Weber.
The collective established in 1983 by Glasgow School of Art graduates will return to the ground floor corner site at the junction of King and Parnie streets.
Committee member Helen Tubridy said: "It's about going back to the old institution.
"We are trying to keep it as much as possible as it was - maintaining the pillars and the size, but it will be a new, clean Transmission in the original home."
Project Ability, which every week works with 200 adults and children with physical disabilities, learning difficulties or mental health problems is also moving in.
Artistic director Elizabeth Gibson said: "Our existing building is very old: we don't have hot water and we don't have good access.
"Our artists are very proud of their work and proud that they're going to be in a much more public environment and able to share that."
Work began on the project early in 2007. The roof of the building was retiled, joists replaced and exterior stonework repaired.
The public will access to the ground and first floors and can take part in workshops or private tours of the production spaces.
The reception, lit by a lighting installation by Donald Urquhart, sweeps up to a grand curved staircase to the first floor galleries.
The natural light increases as you go up, with the arched windows of Project Ability bathing the third floor in sunlight, while the studio pods' of Glasgow Independent Studios will house a warren of creative activity on the fourth floor.
GMAC occupies the fifth-floor loft with its film production technology.
The block is a conversion of three existing buildings. It is funded by Glasgow City Council (£5.75m), the Scottish Arts Council National Lottery Fund (£1.5m), Scottish Enterprise Glasgow (£500,000) and The Merchant City Townscape Heritage Initiative (£750,000).
Councillor George Ryan, executive member for Business at Glasgow City Council, said: "Trongate 103 will play a key role in ensuring that Glasgow maintains its position as a global player in contemporary art."
THE TENANTS
GLASGOW PRINT STUDIO
Provides printmaking opportunities for artists and courses for the public. Founded in 1972, its new home will have a shop at street level, a gallery and studio spaces.
TRANSMISSION GALLERY
Set up in 1983 by graduates from Glasgow School of Art, its former members include Douglas Gordon and Toby Webster of the Modern Institute. It will return to its ground floor corner site.
PROJECT ABILITY
Since 1984, it has worked with children and adults with disabilities or mental health problems. It will have a first-floor gallery space and the entire third floor of Trongate 103 for its artistic studios.
GLASGOW MEDIA ACCESS CENTRE
On the fifth floor, the community media company provides low-cost facilities, equipment and high-quality training and production opportunities.
STREET LEVEL PHOTOWORKS
Founded in 1989, it supports artists and tells the public about photography. It will have a gallery on the ground floor and studio space.
SHARMANKA
Russian kinetic sculpture theatre Sharmanka will move from Osborne Street into the first floor of Trongate. It opened in Glasgow in 1995.
GLASGOW INDEPENDENT STUDIO
An artist-led organisation for visual artists, it will occupy Trongate's fourth floor studio space and a first floor public gallery.
CAFÉ COSSACHOK
Light will stream in the 3m-high windows of this Russian Cultural Centre and cafe. The ground floor site will offer food, drink and music.
