The building would be taken on by an independent legal entity
The Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society has called for the creation of a legal entity to lead the reconstruction of Glasgow’s fire-hit Mackintosh building in a move that would transfer ownership away from the Glasgow School of Art (GSA).
They hope the plan will create an international visitor attraction to draw fans of the artist from across the world.
The society unveiled an 11-page paper on the future of the Mackintosh Building, suggesting the formation of a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), which would lead the renovation of the site.
It said it wanted to create a space which would include public access and space to learn about Mackintosh’s work as well as room for the creative arts and culture.
The document, Mackintosh Building: The Way Ahead, outlines the society’s preferred course of action in seeing an accurate reconstruction of Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s masterpiece eight years after the second fire which destroyed it.
It points out that Mackintosh already draws people to Glasgow from around the world, and says that a major visitor attraction could add to this appeal.
In the paper, the society states: “Decisive action at a national level will be read globally as a statement of how seriously cultural heritage is taken in Scotland and the UK.”
It also said the building was no longer vital to its functioning as an art school and suggested the building known as The Mack could become an anchor for a "creative and cultural production innovation district".
The document, prepared by the Society’s expert panel in heritage buildings, said options for future use should be determined by the SPV following “wide consultation and business case analysis”, but added that the final use must enable people to visit the building and engage with Mackintosh’s work.
Director Matthew Williams said: “The Society has plenty of common ground with The Glasgow School of Art and support their first stage of work to stabilise the building and remove the current scaffold which is holding the structure in place. This will allow for future phases of reconstruction and the public will be able to see what currently remains.
“However, as an independent critical friend to the Art School, we believe that following that first phase an external body should take on the building and get the project finished in the coming years.”
Chair Michael Dale said the reconstruction would create a “huge opportunity” to boost the city, create jobs, and invest in heritage skills.
He said: “The Society has a mission to protect Mackintosh’s work and believe that an independent body is the best way to take the reconstruction project forward. We’ve been heartened by the positive political response in both Holyrood and Westminster and encourage ministers to work together to secure the future of the Mackintosh Building, which is so beloved by people from Scotland and around the world.”