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Glasgow artists struggle to cope with CCA’s decline

The abrupt shutdown of the arts venue has sparked worries among local creatives about potential alternatives for showcasing their art.

In a surprise move, the Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA) in Glasgow shut down last month, leaving its 40 staff members without jobs and sparking widespread shock.

A group of six young people on stage, looking to the right. They are wearing white T-shirts and standing in front of a white screen. The word BLAH in black capitals is being projected onto them and the screen. They look very serious. — For Call to Stage, the show has gone on – at the National Piping Centre in Glasgow

Financial concerns and disputes with artists and activists, including those related to the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza, led to the abrupt closure of the CCA.

The news caught off guard hundreds of artists and creatives who were working on projects at or near the CCA, throwing their plans into disarray.

Call to Stage, a Glasgow-based non-profit theatre company, was set to premiere its production of Spring Awakening at the CCA, but the sudden closure forced them to find a new venue.

According to co-founder Olivia Attwooll-Keith, the company first learned of the closure through a news article, which marked the beginning of a frantic search for an alternative venue.

The discovery that the CCA had made its staff redundant and was closing immediately sent the company into crisis mode, as they scrambled to salvage their production.

This experience is all too familiar for many artists, who face significant challenges in a struggling creative economy where venues can disappear overnight, leaving them to pick up the pieces.

Call to Stage's production of Spring Awakening, a Broadway musical from 2006, tells a complex coming-of-age story set in a strict 19th-century community, posing a significant creative challenge.

With the clock ticking, the company managed to find a new venue, determined to bring the show to life despite the setbacks.

Olivia Attwooll-Keith notes that the cast and crew had invested four months of work, on top of their full-time jobs, and were determined to see the project through to its conclusion.

The loss of the original venue only strengthened their resolve to stage the show, driven by a desire to overcome the obstacles and bring their creative vision to life.

After a rapid relocation, the show finally opened at the National Piping Centre, albeit with some modifications to the staging.

Although the company has managed to control ticket sales through their own box office, they are still awaiting reimbursement of approximately £2,000 from their cancelled booking at the CCA, which they had paid in full in December.

While many organisations have offered support and alternative venues, the experience has highlighted the fragility of independent theatre infrastructure in Scotland, leaving the company to navigate a challenging landscape.

Olivia Attwooll-Keith observes that the potential loss of the show would have had far-reaching consequences, not only financially but also in terms of the creative work and opportunities for early-career performers.

The situation is particularly poignant given that the musical explores themes of young people navigating systems that fail to listen to them, a message that was nearly silenced by the circumstances.

Another event that fell victim to the CCA's closure was the launch of Daisy Mulholland's new art shop, a spectacular circus-themed event featuring aerial performances, lasers, and animation.

Daisy is a young woman with blonde hair and a beige baseball cap. She is wearing a matching scarf and a black leather jacket. She is centre of frame, smiling and the room behind her is full of colourful arts and crafts work. — Artist Daisy Mulholland has been left unable to access her belongings at the CCA

The event, which had generated significant online interest and was expected to draw over 250 attendees, was cancelled when the CCA shut down, leaving the organisers with a huge logistical challenge.

Daisy Mulholland notes that the project had been months in the making, with extensive rehearsals, costume design, and installations, only to be derailed by the sudden closure of the venue.

On the day of the closure, she received an email informing her of the situation, and by the time she arrived at the CCA, the locks had been changed, leaving her equipment and stock trapped inside.

As a result, Daisy has been unable to rearrange the launch event or make future plans, and her art shop within the CCA remains inaccessible, causing significant disruption to her business.

The closure has resulted in lost sales, stunted growth, and an inability to fulfil pre-orders, with the added burden of refunds for the cancelled event, which had to be notified to attendees at short notice.

Daisy's original business, The Woom Room, had successfully transitioned from the Savoy Centre to the Barras Market, and she had been excited to bring her concept to the CCA, only to see her plans derailed by the sudden closure.

She had envisioned the CCA as a vibrant hub, building on the success of her previous ventures, and was working with the community to develop new ideas and bring more people to the area.

Daisy is currently in discussions with Scottish Enterprise and other agencies to explore her options and find a way forward.

The closure of the CCA has had a ripple effect on her business, resulting in lost sales, disrupted growth, and an inability to access her stock or fulfil customer orders.

The situation has also necessitated refunds for the cancelled event, which was announced to attendees on the day of the closure, adding to the complexity of the situation.

Glasgow's poet laureate, Jim Carruth, notes that the closure of the CCA has also impacted the city's writing community.

Jim Carruth is a middle-aged man with swept back hair. He is wearing a blue suit, blue and white checked shirt and is standing between two other men who can just be seen on the edge of shot. He is holding a piece of paper. — Glasgow poet Jim Carruth is concerned by the loss of the CCA

The St Mungo's Mirrorball, a network of 100 poets founded by Jim in 2005, had a long-standing partnership with the CCA, which provided a vital platform for showcasing local and UK poets.

Jim emphasizes that the CCA's support was essential to the survival of the St Mungo's Mirrorball, as they receive no public funding and rely on the free room provided by the CCA for their events.

The partnership allowed them to host seven events annually, featuring prominent poets, and was a cornerstone of their activities.

While their next event, featuring Anthony Vahni Capildeo, will take place at a nearby Waterstones book shop, Jim expresses concerns about finding suitable venues for future readings, given the unique combination of accessibility, affordability, and amenities offered by the CCA.

The CCA's central location, bar, and overall atmosphere made it an ideal venue, and Jim worries that few alternative spaces in Glasgow can match these qualities.

As the owner of the building at 350 Sauchiehall Street, Creative Scotland, which rented it to the CCA for a nominal fee of £1 per year, is now faced with the task of determining the centre's future.

In a recent appearance before the Scottish parliament's culture committee, Creative Scotland's chief executive, Iain Munro, stated that he would not rush into reopening the CCA, instead focusing on exploring new possibilities and ideas.

A group of 19 young people in various black tops and blue jeans, stand in front of a stone wall. They are all smiling. — Olivia Attwooll-Keith (centre) and the Call to Stage company lost their venue at the CCA

Iain Munro emphasized Creative Scotland's commitment to finding a long-term solution, rather than rushing into a hasty reopening, and highlighted the need for solid foundations to ensure the centre's viability.

He noted that there has been significant interest in the building and its potential uses, and that Creative Scotland is engaged in discussions with various parties to explore these opportunities.

The key challenge, according to Iain Munro, is to find a solution that can provide a stable and sustainable future for the centre, rather than simply reopening it without a clear plan.

Although the CCA has faced closures in the past, including one due to funding uncertainty, the current situation is distinct, as the centre had been promised £1.3m in funding from Creative Scotland for the upcoming financial year.

For Olivia Attwooll-Keith, the experience has only strengthened her determination to stage her show, and she remains committed to finding a way to bring her creative vision to life, despite the obstacles posed by the CCA's closure.

Despite the challenges, she reflects on the past week as a mixed experience, marked by both difficulties and remarkable moments.

The cast's perseverance in rehearsing and staging a complex production, despite uncertainty, is a testament to their dedication and the resilience of the arts, which strives to continue performing and providing audiences with opportunities to experience new work.

Daisy Mulholland is now in a state of limbo, awaiting the possibility that her unfinished work might be revived and staged at a later date.

According to her, the collaborative process of bringing a project to life involves significant emotional and financial investment, making the abrupt cancellation of a project a crushing experience that can have severe emotional and financial consequences.

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Business

US inflation slows as used vehicle prices decline

According to the most recent official data, prices increased by 2.4% over the 12 months ending in January, marking the smallest gain since May.

The US experienced a slowdown in inflation last month, driven by decreases in energy and used car prices.

A person in a black and white striped shirt with a pony tail walks past a parking lot of used cars. There is a large American flag hanging under the sign and a large white truck on display.

According to the Labor Department, the consumer price index increased by 2.4% over the past 12 months, ending in January, marking a decline from the previous month's 2.7% and the slowest rate since May.

This development may support the argument made by US President Donald Trump and others that the central bank has the flexibility to lower interest rates without triggering a surge in prices.

However, analysts caution that progress toward the Federal Reserve's inflation target of 2% may be hindered in the coming months if companies begin to pass on tariff costs to consumers more extensively.

Neil Birrell, chief investment officer at Premier Miton Investors, noted that the impact of tariffs remains uncertain and pointed out other data anomalies that could have influenced the January figures.

Birrell stated that the January report is likely to pave the way for a potential rate cut in the near future.

He added that the US economy appears to be performing well, with strong growth, stable inflation, a robust job market, and a Federal Reserve that has the ability to adjust its policies as needed.

News

Service Member Injured in Stabbing Incident Close to Military Base

According to Lt Col Mark Teeton, he considers himself lucky following what he describes as a premeditated and intentional assault perpetrated by Anthony Esan.

Lt Col Mark Teeton recalled the moment his life was put in danger when Anthony Esan dropped his deceptive facade and unleashed a violent attack, saying, "I knew I was in trouble."

Eileen Teeton in a black top and shoulder length brown hair, sits next to her husband Mark, who has short hair and is dressed in a grey suit. — Lt Col Mark Teeton, pictured with his wife Eileen, said the support of the public gave him strength after he was attacked by Anthony Esan in Chatham

On 23 July 2024, at approximately 18:00 BST, Teeton's routine walk home from Brompton Barracks was disrupted when Esan approached him, requesting to borrow his mobile phone to seek help for his broken-down moped.

Within three minutes, Teeton had suffered a brutal stabbing, which was briefly interrupted when his wife intervened, pushing Esan away as he lunged at her husband.

In an interview with the BBC, Teeton reflected on his ordeal, stating, "I was fortunate to have survived."

Esan, aged 25, received a life sentence with a minimum term of seven years and 162 days at Maidstone Crown Court.

During the sentencing, Mr Justice Picken described the attack as having an "unimaginable horror."

The judge also ruled that Esan would be detained in a hospital for as long as necessary.

Prior to the attack, Esan had conducted online searches for knives, a terrorist attack in West Africa, and TikTok videos depicting knife attacks in other countries.

Anthony Esan is seen being held by two police officers, who are wearing uniforms and gloves. Esan is wearing a grey top and has his hands behind his back. — The court heard Esan 'lied' to his mother and said he was going to look for a job

The court heard that Esan had also searched for information on the 2013 murder of Lee Rigby, referred to as the "Woolwich soldier murdered."

Forensic psychiatrists testified that Esan's actions were more likely driven by psychosis, but that he had intentionally targeted a soldier.

Mr Justice Picken stated, "The attack on Mr Teeton was targeted and deliberate."

Addressing Esan, the judge said, "You intentionally sought out a soldier with the intention of causing fatal harm, as evident from your online search of the Lee Rigby killing."

Eileen Teeton, Mark's wife, recounted how she rushed from their home and confronted the assailant, but Esan's gaze followed her.

She described how Esan then turned his attention back to her husband, at which point she realized the victim was her husband.

After Esan ceased his attack and fled on his moped, Eileen's priority was to get her husband medical attention as quickly as possible.

As Teeton drifted in and out of consciousness, guards from the nearby barracks, local residents, police, and paramedics arrived at the scene.

Teeton was rushed to Kings College Hospital in London, where he underwent emergency surgery, while his wife followed, unsure if he would survive.

Following the sentencing, Teeton stated that Esan's life imprisonment reflected the premeditation and planning that went into the attack against him, a British military officer.

He added, "Knife attacks have far-reaching consequences, affecting not only the victim but also their families and the communities where they occur."

Teeton expressed his empathy, saying, "We feel the pain of every knife attack we see in the news, and our thoughts are always with those affected."

Prior to the attack, Teeton, a 26-year veteran of the military, had completed four tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Wearing combat uniform and dark glasses, Lt Col Teeton smiles at the camera from the interior of a partly-constructed building in Afghanistan — Lt Col Teeton worked with the Canadian armed forces in Afghanistan in 2010/11

He credited the swift response of paramedics, who arrived by air ambulance, with helping to save his life.

Teeton also acknowledged the role of locals who provided first aid, saying, "The immediate care they provided, along with the basic first aid principles they applied, absolutely saved me."

After a three-week hospital stay, Teeton returned home to find that the military had relocated his family to a more private area.

He then spent five weeks at a rehabilitation centre for injured military personnel near Loughborough before returning to work full-time in January 2025.

In January, Esan pleaded guilty to attempted murder, following several delays in the case due to concerns about his mental health.

Esan had previously attempted to join the British Army on multiple occasions, with his first application submitted in 2020.

In the same year, he was referred to mental health services due to apparent mental health issues and reports of hearing voices.

Esan's mother believed that, given his mental state, he should not have been in the community, according to testimony presented in court.

Eileen Teeton, who sings in a military wives choir, expressed relief that Esan had pleaded guilty, sparing them the ordeal of a trial.

She stated, "We felt a massive sense of relief that he had taken responsibility for his actions and pleaded guilty, sparing us and the jurors from reliving the horrific ordeal."