THE short-term future of a top Edinburgh arts venue has been secured after the building was put up for sale.
In May, the owners of Summerhall announced that they were planning to sell the site with estate agents claiming it had “endless” potential to be developed into student housing, a “boutique hotel”, or offices.
The arts complex acts as a major venue during the Edinburgh Fringe and contains a pub as well as hosting spaces for artists and small businesses.
Since the site was put up for sale, more than 14,000 people have signed a petition calling for the venue to be kept as a cultural space in Edinburgh.
Summerhall owner Robert McDowell is selling the site through the Isle of Man based family-owned trust Oesselmann Estates Limited.
However, on Tuesday The Scotsman reported that a three-year lease agreement had been secured to allow Summerhall to continue to operate as an arts venue in the short-term.
Performance and exhibition spaces are set to remain in use for the length of the lease agreement following talks between managers, owners and property consultant Cuthbert White.
A closing date of September 18 remains in place for formal bids on the site.
Speaking to The Scotsman, Summerhall Arts chief executive Sam Gough said there was still a great deal of uncertainty surrounding the future of the venue.
“We’ve no idea who is going to buy Summerhall, what is going to happen with it or whether there will be any sensible offers for it at all,” he said.
“Our aim has been to create the ability to stay at Summerhall to consistently do the job that we want to do.
“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."
Some board members are calling for increased public support to save Summerhall, with announcements on a campaign expected soon.
The TV producer Debbie Christie, who sits on the board of Summerhall Arts, said: “We know this is ambitious and we can’t achieve it without public support.
"Summerhall is a much-loved venue which brings international acclaim to Scotland during the Fringe, but also provides a welcoming, safe, open and well-used venue for the wider public and arts community throughout the year.
"We will need as much support as we can get to make this happen and we will be announcing more ways people can help us as we go forward.”
