Summerhall Arts, an independently registered charity launched in October 2023 to support and develop the artistic community of Edinburgh, are in the closing stages of signing a lease in order to take over the consistent arts provision within Summerhall during and beyond its current transition.
Summerhall Arts underpins the six different artistic disciplines that make up Summerhall’s creative programme: Live Performance and Professional Development, Visual Arts, Cinema, Local Live Music and Interdisciplinary and Community Engagement.
In order to preserve year-round programmed events within the renowned building, Summerhall Arts need public financial support to help cover the core operational and key start-up costs of this work.
SA is calling on the public, who has already shown great interest and support in seeking the preservation of the arts within this historic building, to donate whatever they are able to the fundraising campaign no matter how small or large the sum.
With the closing date for offers on the building having passed, Summerhall Arts are confident that a collaboration with the eventual new owners will favour a future with the arts at the centre.
In an increasingly unstable arts funding climate, Summerhall Arts are committed to making space and providing support for early career Scottish artists, in addition to maintaining the programme of year-round live performance as well as the peak festival season.
Summerhall Arts will support live performance by commissioning and developing local new writing and offering dedicated opportunities for interdisciplinary work and collaborating with local and international theatre companies to programme work that addresses contemporary social issues, including the climate crisis. In 2024, the number of Scottish companies represented in the Summerhall festival reduced from 22 to 6 in just 2 years showing an urgent and vital need for more support for early and mid-career Scottish theatre makers.
Summerhall Arts will look to rebalance this with artist residencies; week-long Lab Week programmes; space for up to 80 weeks of development or rehearsals across the year; Summerhall Drop Ins and further events in their ‘Summerhall Surgeries’ scratch event series. A mentorship programme will pair emerging artists with experienced professionals; offering workshops and masterclasses led by industry experts, as well as networking events with industry, peers and venue figures and listening to artists to ensure meaningful responses to their needs.
Within their new Visual Arts strategy, Summerhall Arts would offer opportunities for independent visual artists to exhibit work in a gallery context, curating thematically around contemporary social, cultural, and political issues. This space does not exist for non-commercial artists in another form and offers a vital opportunity to local and emerging artists to thrive.
Access to exhibitions and associated events will be free of charge, ensuring community access to culture at the heart of the building.
Following the success of Edinburgh International Film Festival held in the building this summer, Summerhall Arts want to expand cinema programming with independent cinema releases, repertory cinema classics, documentaries, and foreign language films.
Within live music Summerhall Arts wishes to foster a supportive and inclusive environment for musicians, offering rehearsal space, technical support and opportunities for professional development to be able to maintain a consistent programme of live music within Summerhall.
To implement this plan to nurture and develop the arts in Scotland with success, and to offer community events and outreach, Summerhall Arts needs continued public’s support.
Donations can be made at www.summerhallarts.co.uk.
Irene Brown
Radio Summerhall Arts 