GSA announces £500,000 donation to the Mackintosh Campus Appeal

The Glasgow School of Art has announced that the Garfield Weston Foundation has made a donation of £500,000 towards The Mackintosh Campus Appeal, which is supporting the development of the GSA’s Garnethill campus including the restoration of the Mackintosh Building and conversion of the former Stow College Building which the GSA acquired earlier in the year.

The announcement came as the Secretary of State for Scotland, David Mundell MP, hosted an event for the Mackintosh Campus Project at Dover House in London.

Mr Mundell, said: “It is a real pleasure to host tonight’s fundraising event for the Mackintosh Campus, and to support the rebuilding of an iconic British institution which has produced so many leading architects, designers and artists.

“The UK Government was among the very first to support Glasgow School of Art’s restoration appeal with a £5m donation, and has given a further £5m to support the Mackintosh Campus development.

“I am delighted to hear that that the Garfield Weston Foundation is the latest organisation to support the Mackintosh Campus Appeal, and I look forward to seeing the progress of the restoration.”

“We are grateful to the Secretary of State for Scotland for hosting this event tonight,” said Professor Tom Inns, Director of the GSA. “It is an important opportunity for us to share our ambitious plans for the campus redevelopment, including bringing together all pathways of the School of Fine Art for the first time in many years in a refurbished Stow Building, and to give an update on the restoration of the Mackintosh Building.”

“I would particularly like to thank the Trustees of the Garfield Weston Foundation for their generous support for our Mackintosh Campus Appeal.”

Philippa Charles, director of the Garfield Weston Foundation, said: “The Garfield Weston Foundation supports organisations and activities that share a commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of the communities in which they work, and that are driven by a desire to achieve excellence.

“The Glasgow School of Art sits at the heart of the Garnethill community and the people of Glasgow hold the Mackintosh Building dear. We are delighted to be able to support the Mackintosh Campus Appeal which will enable the GSA to bring this iconic building back as part an extended campus and enable the internationally renowned Glasgow School of Art to recover fully from the impact of the fire.”

Guests at the Dover House event included Glasgow MPs, members of the Culture Media and Sport Select Committee, London-based GSA supporters and alumni. It was offered to the GSA following a visit to the Mackintosh Building by Scotland Office Minister, Lord Dunlop, which was hosted by The Chair of the Mackintosh Restoration Committee, Eleanor McAllister, and Senior Project Manager for the restoration, Liz Davidson.