As another of Glasgow’s much loved art spaces, Trongate 103, is under threat, hundreds gathered to voice their frustration and demand action from Glasgow City Council. One artist, Sadia Sikander, shares photos from the day and thoughts on the impact on artists like herself and users of grassroots spaces.

*Demonstrators gather on Saturday 21 March for Trongate 103*

Words and photos by Sadia Sikandar

Another valued art space in Glasgow is under threat: Trongate 103. It's unfair for the space users, artist community and art organisations to see valued spaces gradually close. City Property offices issued the arts organisations a new lease agreement, which includes unaffordable rents. In response, demonstrators gathered for Trongate 103 and demanded that Glasgow City Council take action on the matter. City Property is the arms length company that manages properties on behalf of Glasgow City Council.

Trongate 103 hosts seven projects: GMAC Film, Sharmanka Kinetic Theatre, Glasgow Print Studio, Street Level Photoworks, Project Ability, Project Rooms and Transmission Gallery. Projects at Trongate 103 were informed of new leases recently, in which rents were hiked up, making it impossible for them to continue staying in the space. Despite the new leases being much higher in rent, tenants were requested to sign them or receive notices to leave.

In an email shared with supporters, GMAC’s interim director, Louise Oliver, described City Properties decision as “cultural vandalism” against the city.

This comes at a time when Glasgow’s grassroots arts and cultural spaces are already saying they are struggling to stay afloat due to the loss of public spaces, funding instability and rising rent. This is raising concerns about what the future of Glasgow’s art scene will look like, particularly for those who are grassroots based and experimental

We’ve seen similar incidents throughout the years. On Sauchiehall Street, the Third Eye Centre closed in the early 1990s due to financial difficulties. While it reopened as the Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA), it also closed its doors late last year, leaving many of its projects that used the space, with nowhere to go. CCA is now being investigated for funding concerns by the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR). Contemporary art galleries, Roger Billcliffe Gallery closed in December 2025, Telfer Gallery in 2018, and now Trongate 103 is under threat.

Mark Langdon, chair of GMAC, said at the demonstration: “We had no idea that this many people would show up; it shows you the love. All these organisations have thousands and thousands of people who have experienced the fantastic services they offer and are really passionate about keeping those organisations in that building.”

Scottish Labour MSP, Paul Sweeny, has been actively campaigning for Trongate 103. He spoke at the Scottish Parliament, requesting First Minister John Swinney to urgently intervene to stop eviction notices being issued to arts organisations at Trongate 103.

John Swinney responded with sympathy and concern for the organisations involved.

It’s a shame no action has been taken yet. A rent hike is pushing vital, publicly funded arts organisations toward eviction. This is not just unfair, it’s an attack on Glasgow’s cultural life.

We called on the First Minister, John Swinney, to intervene and hold City Property. Sympathy won’t protect artists. Sympathy won’t stop closures. Sympathy won’t save our cultural spaces. We need action. Now.

MSP, Paul Sweeney also spoke: “It’s good to see the solidarity, it's good to see the cross party effort out here today to sort this issue out and to show some leadership. This is a problem, no offence to accountants, but it seems to be a problem when you put accountants in charge when they've no concept of what social value actually is to this city.

I'm sorry, but the balance sheet is just one dimension here, and a fourfold rent increase ten times service charges is just not reasonable. These are organisations which are dependent on grant funding, which is fixed if you drown them with a massive increase in cost, which is obviously something out of their control, they have no alternative but to leave, and that would be a disastrous scar on the face of Glasgow.”

In addition, director Elisabeth Gibson of Project Ability, an arts space welcoming people with disabilities and ill mental health, said: “We have been let down by the Glasgow City Council and Creative Scotland, which has parroted City Property talking points rather than advocating for the arts and artists who make up the Trongate 103 community and who contribute so much to the rich diversity of the city.”

As a pro-Palestinian artist and as someone who uses art and photography to raise awareness about change and social issues, justice, we do not have many choices for displaying our work. There are many venues that I and others are boycotting, meaning we have to work hard to find opportunities. Sometimes waiting a long time before we are able to secure a space.

Organisers have set up an online petition to help save the space. At the time of writing, the petition had reached over 21,000 signatures and states: “Trongate103 is one of the last visual arts venues remaining in the city, especially after the recent closure of the Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA). Losing it would be a devastating blow to Glasgow's vibrant cultural scene.”

These actions are all a reflection of our city and country's need for artists, and everyone’s presence at the protest highlighted that artists make Glasgow.

Those concerned with Glasgow’s closures are encouraged to come along to the Boardwalk on Thursday, 9 April, to discuss the future of Glasgow’s creative spaces.