The Scotsman : Fri 3 Oct 2003

Artists gather at the entrance to the Tramway last night to demonstrate against the proposal to convert the exhibition space.



Artists protest at ballet premiere : ANDREW EATON ARTS EDITOR

SCOTTISH Ballet faced the wrath of its critics last night, as about 50 artists and curators staged a demonstration outside the Tramway Arts Centre in Glasgow.

The company has provoked fury over its plans to convert Tramway 2, an internationally-recognised exhibition space, into rehearsal space.

Yesterday, as the audience entered the premiere of Scottish Ballet’s latest show, protesters handed out leaflets describing the plan as divisive and ill-conceived and an insult to a community which had made "an enormous contribution" to Glasgow’s status as a city of culture.

Many well-known names were among the crowd, including Toby Paterson, a former winner of the Beck’s Futures Arts Prize, Alan Currall and David Sherry, both nominated for the prize this year, and Susanna Beaumont.

Mr Paterson said: "This protest shows the strength of feeling about what Tramway 2 represents, not only in Glasgow but in an international context. It would be a tragedy to lose it."

Sorcha Dallas, one of the organisers, said further demonstrations were planned at shows tonight and tomorrow, but added: "This protest is not directing criticism at Scottish Ballet. It’s not aggressive in any way. It’s just about making people aware of how important [the] space is to the visual arts community."

However, there were signs last night that the row is becoming increasingly bitter. It is believed that Alexia Holt, the visual arts officer at Tramway, has been suspended from her job by Glasgow City Council, which owns the venue and will ultimately decide on Scottish Ballet’s plan.

Artist Lucy Skaer, who exhibited in Tramway 2 last year as part, is said to be blocking the sale of her work to Glasgow’s Gallery of Modern Art, also run by the council. Others are expected to follow.