GLASGOW.- The Glasgow School of Art was approved as long-term tenant for McLellan Galleries at last week’s meeting of Glasgow City Council’s Executive Committee. The GSA, which was based in the B-listed building prior to the opening of the Mackintosh Building in the late 19th century, will invest over £10m to bring the historic galleries back into use.

Over recent years Glasgow City Council (GCC) has sought a tenant to take a long-term lease on the Galleries, repair the building and use it in line with its historic purposes.

The plan, which will integrate the McLellan Galleries into the GSA’s Garnethill campus, will see the institution make an investment of between £10m and £20m to return the building to its place at the heart of Glasgow’s creative and cultural life.

As part of the GSA’s strategic estates development, which is currently being master-planned by Page\Park Architects, the practice created a series of initial concept ideas for the B-listed building which include a new central courtyard / exhibition space providing a public route through from Sauchiehall Street to the GSA’s newly developed precinct between the Mackintosh, Reid and Bourdon Buildings on Renfrew Street. Such a development would also offer the public a glimpse into the creative and cultural production of staff and students enabling the public to engage in the life of the School.

“We are delighted that Glasgow City Council has approved The Glasgow School of Art as long term-tenant for McLellan Galleries,” says Professor Tom Inns, Director of The Glasgow School of Art said ‘The GSA occupied McLellan Galleries for 30 years from 1869 before moving into purpose-designed accommodation at 167 Renfrew street – The Mackintosh Building. 100 years later, our plans and investment in the Galleries will bring them back to life and secure their long-term future for both the school and the city”

Councillor Gordon Matheson, Leader of Glasgow City Council, said: “The McLellan Galleries has enjoyed a great past, and now we can look forward to a fantastic future for this wonderful building. The Glasgow School of Art presented an extremely strong case for the long-term lease, and seem a perfect fit for the Galleries. This is not just great news for the development of the McLellan Galleries and the growth of the School of Art, but also for this part of the city centre.”

The GSA will now move forward with plans to appoint an architects practice to lead the redevelopment and will establish a timetable for the development of the Galleries which will be agreed with GCC. For initial thoughts on how the galleries might be redesigned see Notes for Editors

The proposed date of entry and commencement of the 95-year lease would be from September 2015. The GSA is currently occupying the Galleries and will continue to do so until the date of entry on a temporary licence.