GLASGOW SCHOOL OF ART SAYS IT CANNOT AFFORD £265M MACKINTOSH RESTORATION

Glasgow School of Art has stated it cannot fully restore the Mackintosh Building to its former state without additional financial support. The art school, which previously committed to a faithful reinstatement of the Charles Rennie Mackintosh-designed building, said an insurance settlement regarding the 2018 fire provided "financial clarity" showing it "cannot take forward the faithful reinstatement on its own." The school now proposes the building could serve as an anchor for a creative and cultural production innovation district. Ann Priest, chair of the school's board of governors, told BBC Scotland News the institution could not rebuild the entire structure alone without compromising its financial sustainability.

The Mackintosh Building was damaged by fires in 2014 and 2018. A new report from the art school cites construction inflation, market volatility and economic pressure as factors driving costs higher than predicted in a 2021 assessment. The school now estimates full restoration would cost £265m and describes a "significant funding gap" dependent on external funding sources it characterises as uncertain. Priest said the school would seek investment from "visionary individuals" and from government and local authorities. The proposals have attracted criticism from figures in the art world, though the BBC did not detail specific objections in its reporting.

The GSA will remove external scaffolding from the building as a first step, stating this will improve its presentation and visibility whilst helping stabilise the site. Priest described this as the opening phase in "the reinstatement for whatever this building is going to become" and characterised the new proposals as a landmark decision for the site's long-term future. The school remains committed to some form of reinstatement, though Priest acknowledged it would not be an exact replica due to changes in construction and building standards.