Regarding Recent Developments at Trongate 103
There has been significant public discussion in recent days regarding the future of Trongate 103 and the position of its cultural tenants, including GMAC Film. We would like to clarify our position.
GMAC has been served with formal notice to quit our space at Trongate 103, by City Property (Glasgow City Council’s commercial property arm), requiring us to vacate by 27 March unless we enter into a new lease agreement. The proposed lease terms represent a substantial increase in rent and associated charges.
As a registered charity delivering public benefit, we do not believe organisations like ours should be expected to operate on full commercial market terms – particularly within a building originally developed with public investment to serve cultural and charitable purposes.
A four-week deadline to accept significantly increased costs or vacate is, in practical terms, an eviction notice for a charity. The timescale places our staff team, programme delivery, specialist equipment and significant film archive at serious risk. Responsible relocation of a cultural organisation with decades of heritage cannot be achieved safely within such a compressed timeframe.
Our decision to rally support was rooted in the belief that our sector and community have a right to understand the risks facing GMAC and Trongate 103. We speak on behalf of our organisation alone, but we stand in solidarity with our neighbours in the building and respect that each tenant will determine their own position. But one thing GMAC Film knows with certainty is that positive change only truly happens with the support of the community.
For almost four decades, GMAC has provided a free, welcoming and supportive space for filmmakers, young people and communities. Our mission is simple:
Telling stories changes lives.
At a time when media literacy is critical, when representation in film and television remains unequal, and when access to creative industries is still shaped by privilege, the work of organisations like GMAC matters.
We contribute directly to:
- Skills development, confidence building, and sustainable employment pathways
- Media literacy and Learning for Sustainability
- Youth voice and participation, including Article 12 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
- Being able to offer inclusive cultural spaces that create free welcoming and supportive environments to all members of our community
Cultural spaces are disappearing across Glasgow at an alarming rate. The long-term impact of losing accessible, affordable creative hubs affects not just artists, but the social and civic health of the city.
This moment is bigger than one organisation. It is about how we value culture, opportunity and public space.
We remain open to meaningful dialogue and constructive engagement. Our hope is that Trongate 103 continues to serve the cultural and charitable life of the city. We are grateful for the support we have received and remain committed to acting in good faith in terms of what is right for Glasgow and our culture as we navigate the future.
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GMAC Film