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STV News
10 hours ago
- Politics
- STV News
CCA closes amid planned takeover by pro-Palestinian activists
The Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA) in Glasgow has temporarily closed in response to protests planned by pro-Palestine activists. The board announced on Wednesday that it had made the decision to keep the building on Sauchiehall Street closed for the rest of the week. It comes after Art Workers for Palestine Scotland shared plans to occupy the public courtyard as part of a week-long programme of action. The campaign group said it would stage an events programme in the 'liberated zone', including workshops, screenings and discussions that centre Palestinian liberation and 'interrogate the complicity of Scottish cultural institutions in the ongoing genocide in Gaza'. The action was announced in response to the CCA's Board's refusal to endorse the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI). STV News Art Workers for Palestine Scotland action at CCA The PACBI advocates for a boycott of Israeli academic and cultural institutions. Activists began their takeover on Tuesday, resulting in police being called and a 63-year-old woman being arrested. The CCA Board said the decision had been taken to close the building temporarily to prioritise the safety and wellbeing of staff and partners and 'create space for reflection'. A statement issued on social media said: 'In light of recent events and ongoing conversations involving the Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA), we've made the decision to keep the building closed to the public for the remainder of this week. 'This is not a decision we take lightly, but we recognise the need to pause. The temporary closure will allow us to prioritise the safety and wellbeing of our staff and partners, and to create space for reflection. 'We understand the strength of feeling being expressed by our community, and we remain committed to engaging with this moment thoughtfully. 'We will be sharing further updates in the coming days.' In response, AW4P accused the CCA of choosing 'complicity' and called for the resignations of board member Roddy Hunter and chair of the board Jean Cameron. 'GSA Pal Soc are disgusted by the actions of the CCA and its board that took place yesterday, during a public programme of events centered around resistance, learning and artistic solidarity organised by Art Workers for Palestine', the group said in a statement. 'CCA used internal security, then called police who violently escalated the situation and brutally arrested a member of the public. It is completely shameful and abhorrent to enact fascist state violence against members of their local community who refuse to stay silent in the face of genocide.' STV News Art Workers for Palestine Scotland action at CCA A Police Scotland spokesperson said: 'Around 12.55pm on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, we received a report of a disturbance involving a large group on Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow. 'Officers attended and engaged with those present. The group later dispersed. 'A 63-year-old woman has been arrested and charged in connection, and is expected to appear at court at a later date.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
The Herald Scotland
14 hours ago
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Arts centre to close temporarily after pro-Palestine protest
The Arts Workers For Palestine Scotland campaign had announced plans to "reclaim the CCA" for several days this week with a series of events in a "liberated zone" at the venue. Read more: The CCA, which has been targeted over a refusal to support a boycott of Israeli academic and cultural institutions, said it had been forced to close to the public due to "safety and security concerns" over the "intended occupation" of its courtyard. The CC added that the police had been called in to respond to a "forced entry" at the venue, which showcases a number of different art forms. However campaigners have accused the CCA of "colluding" with the police, and have demanded the resigning of its chair, Jean Cameron, and board member, Roddy Hunter. The Centre for Contemporary Arts has been running since 1992. A statement from the campaign group, which has suggested there was a "violent crackdown" against its protest plans, added: "We will not back down. We will reclaim our centre." The group had claimed that the CCA had refused to let run events in a "liberated zone" and had urged supporters to "mobilise" to enter the building and "reclaim" its courtyard space. A spokesperson for the CCA said: "In light of recent events and ongoing conversations involving the CCA, we've made the decision to keep the building closed to the public for the rest of this week. "This is not a decision we take lightly, but we recognise the need to pause. The temporary closure will allow us to prioritise the safety and wellbeing of our staff and partners, and to create space for reflection. "We understand the strength of feeling being expressed by our community and we remain committed to engaging with this moment thoughtfully. "We will be sharing updates in the coming days. Thank you for your support and your patience." The CCA had earlier said that it wanted to acknowledge the activists who had gathered to "express their views" at the venue. It added: "We recognise the conviction, deep emotion, urgency and purpose behind their presence. "We also understand the significance of this moment. "This has been particularly challenging for our staff." Earlier this month the CCA said that its board had been "unable to reach a consensus" over whether to endorse the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel. At the time, the centre said it would be instigating a "transparent, values-based consultation with our staff and the broader CCA community to address the substantive issues." The CCA was opened in 1992 at the home of the former Third Eye Centre, which was founded in 1974. Writers, artists and performers who have shown work or performed there include Allen Ginsberg, Whoopi Goldberg, John Byrne, Billy Connolly, Edwin Morgan, Kathy Acker, Damien Hirst, Sophie Calleite, Nathan Coley, Jacqueline Donachie, Louise Hopkins, Carol Rhodes, Richard Wright, David Shrigley and Ross Sinclair. The venue has had a number of difficulties over the last decade, including being forced to close for several months due to the impact of the 2018 Glasgow School of Art fire, a long-running dispute over the pay and conditions of workers at its cafe-bar, and financial problems, which forced the venue to close temporarily in December. The venue finally reopened in April after securing a new £3.4 million Scottish Government funding deal for the next three years.
