Hope for Fringe venue threatened with closure

The charity that runs one of the best-known Edinburgh Fringe venues has announced it is close to securing a three-year lease for the building. 

The future of Summerhall, a former vet school comprised of seven buildings that host hundreds of performances annually, has been uncertain after the building was put up for sale in May. Prospective owners were offered several "refurbishment options," including a change of use to residential, offices or student housing.

The complex is owned by Oesselmann Estates Limited, based on the Isle of Man, but is run by Summerhall Management. Summerhall Management works with its charity arm Summerhall Arts, founded in October 2023, to deliver an annual visual arts programme in the building alongside a programme of professional development and artist support.

The new terms of the three-year lease would see the charity take control of delivery of the entire year-round artistic and events programme and the employment of programming and operational teams.

“We have been working flat out to find a way to safeguard the consistent artistic delivery and the year-round programme of events at Summerhall, not just through the sales process, but into the future,” said Summerhall Arts Chief Executive Sam Gough.

“Whilst the Fringe and other events for this year are safe, we have been conscious that a longer-term future for the management of the building and the delivery of the arts has been less certain.”

To maintain its programme, Summerhall Arts is launching a fundraising campaign to help cover the core running costs of its artistic output.

Speaking on behalf of the building's owners, Stephen Kay from commercial agency Cuthbert White said: "We have always understood the importance of Summerhall for the culture sector and the city. This arrangement will allow Summerhall Arts the opportunity to keep the legacy alive and give them the time needed to secure a much longer future with any prospective new owners.

"We are supportive of their ambition to secure the future of Summerhall’s ongoing arts provision and will do what we can to facilitate their position."