No Rush to Judgment about Tramway :
GRAHAM BERRY, Director of Scottish Arts Council
WEDNESDAY'S letter about Tramway and the need for consultation referred to the appointment of Bonnar Keenlyside by Glasgow City Council to review the governance, role, and future of Tramway. This work will take account of the Scottish Ballet proposal to utilise derelict land to rehouse its rehearsal, administrative, and education spaces, while retaining the Tramway 2 exhibition space. Both the officers and the elected councillors have considerable experience and expertise in managing arts provision for Glasgow's citizens. They are consulting and the Scottish Arts Council is also listening to a range of views. This matter will not be resolved quickly.
To be clear about responsibilities: the Tramway building is owned by the city council and not the SAC. We have been asked to consider a development application from Scottish Ballet (not from both the Opera and the Ballet) together with two other proposals from the city. Our decision-making process requires that applicants demonstrate commitment from all partners involved and that applicants have considered the impact of their proposals, including the ongoing management of any large capital development. So our processes both need and demand consultation. Each application receives a robust assessment, by panels of expert volunteers and our council. There will be no rush to judgment.
The SAC considers the national interest as well as the intentions in any one city and can conclude that proposals are strong or weak and make decisions – including refusal – about the element of funding sought. The policy for the arts in Glasgow is part of the democratic business of local government. The SAC will make independent judgments based on national interest; the city makes its dispositions based on the authority of its elected members. We are both taking account of a range of interested views, in Scotland and beyond.
The SAC has been listening to the views of the visual arts community. Some of the signatories to Wednesday's letter were at our public forum in Glasgow which included a session on Tramway. Councillor Lynch, convener of the cultural and leisure services committee, was also present for part of the time. The SAC has been meticulous in hearing and reading views about the Tramway and will continue to counsel calm until all proposals, reviews, and views have been considered.
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