Summerhall petition to "save" arts venue gets thousands of signatures
Nearly six thousand people have signed the petition demanding the developer not “decimate” the arts venue
A petition demanding that developers halt plans to “decimate” Edinburgh’s Summerhall arts venue has received thousands of signatures.
Its nearly six thousand signatories are hoping to convince them to refuse permission to property developer AMA's current plans which would demolish some of the existing buildings and incorporate hotel and living units on the site.
Plans to create a “thriving arts quarter” at the venue alongside other uses to “sustain it into the future” are currently at the pre-application period.
The strength of concern for the arts complex was clear at a consultation on the plans earlier this month, with the event opening two hours early to allow everyone to attend.
Monica is among those who signed the petition and said: “Edinburgh has slowly been losing vital third spaces and community centres that are so key to making a city more than the sum of its parts—people living in close proximity to each other.
“We are about to lose Summerhall—a place that is hugely critical to the vibrancy not just of the arts but of cultural life and community.”
Jakub added: “The development proposal is incompatible with the Summerhall being a vibrant live arts venue that it is.
“How could you have concerts or the likes of the Sauna Theatre in the courtyard playing until late in the night with a hotel and flats next door?”
AMA has four different mixed-used proposals for the sites with various configurations of commercial units, serviced apartments, student accommodation and a hotel which retain the front part of the former vet school as a “reimagined” arts centre.
The Edinburgh-based developer took over the site last year after the venue faced a winding-up petition by HMRC for unpaid corporation tax.
Speaking at this month’s meeting managing director Dr Ali Afshar said: “Our vision has always been to redevelop this site with art as part of it and make it sustainable going forward.
“We're trying to provide an art centre that is fit-for-purpose today with additional uses on site that complements it and, hopefully by getting more footfall to the site, encourages more income and the use of the centre.”
The petition was started by photographer Robert Pereira Hind, who is one of over 100 tenants including artists and small businesses that call the building home.
Summerhall Arts, a charity which leases the site, have raised concerns about the proposals.
Chief executive Sam Gough told The Scotsman: “Whilst our intention is to remain here and work with AMA to continue the provision of arts within Summerhall, the future space needs to be viable, and we are hopeful that the plans will provide that.
“We are encouraging all those who love Summerhall and its spaces to contribute to the consultation, to help the developers understand how important they are to what makes this already thriving arts centre what it is. At the moment, I have not seen anything that demonstrates this.”
The first round of AMA’s consultation remains open until Friday, October 23, after which a full planning application is eventually expected to be submitted to the council.