The charity-run venue has published a lengthy statement.
A charity-run arts venue in Glasgow has addressed concerns raised about its heavy-handed approach to a protest, and the row relating to an “ableist” slur used against those taking part.
The Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA), based on Sauchiehall Street, published a near 800-word statement on Tuesday addressing the venue’s approach to events on June 24, which left one person injured.
The CCA has faced significant criticism in recent months for its refusal to back the demands of the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI).
The charity said in a statement last month that their board could not reach a consensus on publicly endorsing the boycott, claiming it could face “potential legal complexities and implications for a charity”.
They added that: “To fulfil its charitable aim, the organisation must remain independent politically.”
The statement came after the CCA called the police to prevent a protest by the campaign groups Art Workers for Palestine (AWfP), No Pride in Genocide, and others.
AWfP had proposed a week-long series of workshops hosted in the venue, which the CCA claims did not have permission to go ahead.
One person was injured as a result of the police being called.
The CCA has since been closed, with the charity claiming their “immediate priority is to stabilise the organisation and safely reopen the building” - which they hope to do later this month.
The organisation added: “CCA Glasgow acknowledges the disruption, confusion and harm experienced over recent weeks, particularly by our community, artists, staff, tenants and partners. We sincerely regret the outcome of our decisions on 24 June and that an individual was injured. We recognise that a lack of clarity on our choices had real human consequences, and for this we are deeply sorry.
“We apologise for the delay in external communications, as we focused first on internal dialogue so that we could provide clear and considered information when speaking publicly. We are listening and know that trust cannot be repaired with words alone, but through consistent, honest, and long-term work.
“CCA is committed to lasting change, to listening more openly, making space for conversation, and taking shared responsibility. We are working to refresh our processes to ensure leadership reflects our principles, to amplify staff voices and to meet the changing needs of CCA. Through this, we remain committed to meaningful engagement first within the organisation, and then with all those we work with and serve. This includes constructive dialogue with those who have raised concerns.
“Reopening will require a collective effort across our entire community. We now ask for your support and patience as we undertake this process of reflection and repair.”
Questions were also raised about the future of CCA Finance Manager Steven Thomson, who was revealed to have liked an “ableist” social media post directed at a group challenging his employer.
The organisation now says Mr Thomson will move on from the CCA next month.
Mr Thomson is also the creative director, CEO and company secretary of the charity-run gallery the Art Department in Paisley, but the role he had previously held is noted in the statement, with the CCA claiming they hope to “recruit a new Finance Manager in August 2025”.
He was accused of supporting a comment on social media platform Instagram which described campaigners outside of his Glasgow workplace as “r*t*rds”.
The official account of the Art Department liked a post by a member of the public.
TFN asked the CCA whether Mr Thomson had been sacked, and whether he was still employed by the organisation. A spokesperson said: “Steven Thomson is contracted to work at CCA on a short-term freelance basis. We can confirm that he will move on from CCA in September to allow for a handover. CCA is beginning recruitment for a new Finance Manager in the coming week.
“We want to be clear that CCA does not condone ableism or prejudice in any form. It does not reflect the values of our organisation.
“As this is a personnel matter, we will not comment further at this time.
Campaigners Art Workers for Palestine Scotland (AWfPS) welcomed the move.
They wrote: “CCA’s statement, released yesterday, marks a vital change of direction towards real institutional decolonisation, paving the way for a formal endorsement of PACBI.
“While these assurances are welcome, there is now clearly work to be done. We now call on everyone to hold the CCA accountable to the change it has set out.
“We urge everyone to use the example and precedent of CCA to apply pressure to publicly funded arts organisations. Together we can create a united cultural front against genocide. No culture without Palestinian culture!”
