PLANS for the restoration of the iconic Mackintosh building have triggered a rift within Glasgow School of Art (GSA), with fine art staff fearing the loss of vital painting studio space when it opens its doors again.
Sources have told the Sunday Herald that staff in the school of fine art are furious at proposals which could see a large number of students from other disciplines such as architecture and design move into the building once it is back in use.
It is feared that pressure on space means some students will have to be moved from painting studios - which were purpose-built by Mackintosh and regarded as some of the finest in the world - to make way for schools which involve computers rather than paintbrushes.
It is understood staff have written to Professor Tom Inns, director of the Glasgow School of Art to express their concerns that the flagship school of fine art risks being marginalised under the plans.
The GSA is renowned for having produced some of the most highly-regarded artists in the world, such as Alasdair Gray, Joan Eardley and Peter Howson.
Scotland’s Makar Liz Lochhead, who was a painting student at GSA in the 1960s, said: “If it meant the loss of any of the painting studios, I would be very disturbed and disappointed and feel it wasn’t in the spirit of Mackintosh.
“I would be concerned if anything was to stop the wonderful painting studios which I was lucky enough to study in.”
However she added she would have to know what the plans were for definite before commenting further, and that she doubted GSA would implement such a move.
Artist David Harding, a former head of environmental art at GSA, said it would be “terrible” if painting students were not able to fully utilise the studios.
He said: “It just seems it would be killing it as an art school. Having the smell of oil paint and people going round in heavily soiled smocks and things like that – for visitors that is so terrific and reinforces what the building is about.
“The studios were designed for painting and to turn it into any kind of museum, or fill it with architect and design students, is counter to the whole buildings intention.”
Dugald Cameron, a former director of GSA, said the Mackintosh had to remain as a working building for the purposes for which it had been “wonderfully designed”.
He said: “These great painting studios should be where painting is carried on – that is still relevant.”
However he also pointed out there was an argument that all students who attend GSA should be given the opportunity to spend some time in the Mackintosh building.
He added: “I think one has to remember that when the building was complete with both parts of it, it was used for fine art, design and architecture. When I was a student, certainly architecture had a place in it.
“However I certainly believe the great painting studios should be used for painting.
“The Mackintosh building’s great achievement is it manages to be adapted to each generation.”
Inns, who was appointed director of GSA in September 2013, insisted no decisions had yet been taken on how the Mackintosh building would be used once it is restored.
He said: “The Mackintosh Building is an incredible and inspirational resource from which as many GSA students as possible should be able to benefit.
“As part of the restoration project development we are exploring many options for how we can ensure this, but no decisions have been made at this point.”
Last year’s devastating fire, triggered by flammable gases for a canister of expanding foam, destroyed the building’s Mackintosh Library and the contents of the studio room above it. Thousands of books and 90 oil paintings were lost.
A huge fundraising appeal – backed by Hollywood star Brad Pitt - is ongoing to raise the £20 million needed to restore the building, which is hoped will be fully back in use in 2018, the 150th anniversary of Mackintosh’s birth.
There was furious debate in the aftermath of the fire over the rebuilding of the Mackintosh library, with some arguing it should be revitalised in a new form, rather than a replica.
But last year Inns said it would be rebuilt as Mackintosh intended, with some 21st century technology included.
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article