Edinburgh’s Summerhall launches arts charity

Multi-arts venue Summerhall has announced it is setting up a charity in a bid to become “Edinburgh’s leading arts organisation”.

The company said that the action had been planned “for a long time” but that the charity’s launch was “now urgent and necessary at a time of drastic cuts in the arts and culture sector”. 

The new venture, called Summerhall Arts, will be based within the Summerhall venue but governed independently from the organisation’s existing commercial operations, which will continue to be run by Summerhall Management Ltd. 

Summerhall Arts will offer a year-round theatre programme as well as independent cinema, live music, spoken word and exhibitions. A key focus of the organisation will be providing a platform for new work and emerging talent across multiple arts with commissions and access to free development spaces. 

Housed in a sprawling former Veterinary College, Summerhall already hosts a diverse range of artistic activities and performances, as well as private hire events, and has become a key hub during the Edinburgh Festival. During its 12-year history, it has never received public funding.

According to a report in The Scotsman, the new charity will be seeking support from Creative Scotland in its next major funding round, as well as approaching supporters, philanthropists, trusts and commercial sponsors to fund its work.