When Edinburgh’s Fringe Festival rolls around each year, the entire city gets involved. Pubs host improv shows, clubs transform into small theatres and student bars open their doors to revellers of all ages. And one building that’s right at the heart of it all is Summerhall.
Summerhall has been a huge part of Edinburgh’s arts and culture scene for the last dozen or so years, which is why when news broke earlier this year that it would be going up for sale and could be turned into student housing, locals weren’t best pleased.
But in some promising news, while the sale is still going ahead, it’s been revealed that Summerhall will remain open as an arts space and Fringe venue for at least three more years. The building’s managers and owners made a three-year lease deal, raising hopes that a longer lease could be agreed with future owners.
Sam Gough, Summerhall Arts chief exec, told The Scotsman: ‘A three-year lease basically buys us time. When the new owners come in we will hopefully be able to negotiate a much longer lease with them.
’Summerhall, and all that happens within it, is a vital part of the cultural landscape in the city and it is imperative that it remains.’
A new Summerhall Arts charity has created a fundraising campaign in an effort to raise money for its running costs and maintain its year-round programme of shows and exhibitions.
Things are looking up! And this isn’t the only bit of recent good news for Auld Reekie’s arts venues. The fresh glimmer of hope for Summerhall comes just after fellow Edinburgh venue The Jazz Bar was rescued from closure.
Supporting independent venues
Independent venues are the crown jewels of the UK’s cultural scene and mightily worth celebrating. But there are loads at risk. Find ones to support on Time Out’s list of the UK's best music venues, picked by people who have played them or this roundup of the UK’s best queer venues.
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