Artists, charities, and community groups have been left out in the cold after the impending sale of their “thriving” studio hub was announced last week.
St Margaret’s House has been operated as a base for a kaleidoscopic mix of artists and community organisations since 2008.
Building owner The Caledonian Trust says it is in discussions to sell the building to a “preferred party” and operator Scot-ART informed occupants they’ll have to be out before 24 January next year.
Tenants gathered outside on Monday afternoon for a photo opportunity and to discuss next steps with local politicians. Many were not hopeful about finding a new space.
Melissa Hugo, who is set to appear on Sky’s Portrait Artist of the Year, said she will “likely have to leave Edinburgh” because of the lack of affordable studio space.
“I can’t find another studio, so it’s either that or open up a vape shop,” she joked.
She added that because of the building’s imminent closure, she won’t be able to take advantage of upcoming publicity from her TV appearance and an upcoming awards show.
“With the Sky thing coming out and the Scottish Portrait Awards in November, I was anticipating taking on work, and I now can’t take anything on because I’m going to have to be moving.”
When asked if she believes the council or government could step in and rescue the building, she was dismissive: “Are we looking for Christmas miracles?
“We’ve never had an actual eviction notice before: they’ve always been threatened, but we’ve never been given an actual date.
“But I would hope they can stick in and find somewhere for artists to go, but it doesn’t look likely.”
A previous attempt to sell the building fell through in 2021, while planning permission to demolish and redevelop the block was obtained in 2023.
Hamish Brown, an East Lothian-based media composer and producer who recently released his synth-led electronic albums Two Drifters and Barsini Red, arrived with a miniature synthesizer.
He says the council could have stepped in to buy the property when it was previously up for sale, but “that ship has sailed”.
“Unless the council or the government wants to offer more than the current buyer is offering, then I don’t see how that could be an option,” he added.
“I’ve known it’s been on the cards here for a while, but it’s still a bit of a shock when it happens.”
On his initial attempts at finding a new space, he added: “I stay in East Lothian, but even in East Lothian, the last place I looked at was half the size of my current studio and twice as much.
“I’m going to be in till the bitter end, until the bulldozers arrive. I’ll try and get as much done as I can in the meantime, and then see if something appears.”
Facing the prospect of an exodus of artists from the area, local MSP Ben Macpherson said that while “there’s always been potential for it to be sold”, the news of artists being asked to leave is still “really shocking”.
He added that he will work alongside local MP Chris Murray to make the case that the tenants “need to be looked after”.
“We need to make sure that we have affordable space like this in our city, and really, what I want to do is engage with the new buyer and see what’s possible to make the case to them that having these organizations is a beneficial thing.
“There are previous examples where I’ve managed to impress upon landlords and developers the benefits of having affordable studio space, and I intend to do that again.”
While he cautioned against calls for a full public buyout of the building, he added that “there’s a separate question of you know should there be more publicly subsidized studio space?
“That’s a very valid question, and we have some really good examples of affordable studio space like the Out of the Blue Drill Hall.”
The closure of St Margaret’s House comes at a highly sensitive time for Edinburgh’s arts sector.
Scot-ART also manages the day-to-day operations of Summerhall, another creative hub in the city, which is currently facing its own redevelopment threat.
Developers AMA (New Town) Limited recently launched a public consultation proposing a partial selective demolition of Summerhall to make way for a hotel, residential housing, and student accommodation.
A painting instructor in St Margaret’s House, who asked not to be named, said the initial email from Scot-ART was “impersonal” and at odds with the group’s stated ethos of “fostering a spirit of community”.
“I feel quite sad because I’ve actually been a big part of this project, and I’m featured on the website as a key partner,” she explained.
“I don’t feel like a key partner in this situation.
“I’ve been looking for another space, but this is my business and my livelihood, I can’t really afford to close for more than a week.”
Scot-ART, which rebranded from Edinburgh Palette in 2024 to reflect its nationwide expansion, previously stated on its website that the 200 studios across nine floors were 100% occupied, with a waiting list for space.
The charity’s accounts showed an operating profit of £185,919 across its locations in Edinburgh and Aberdeen.
Meanwhile, Caledonian Trust’s most recent accounts reveal it has let the London Road building to the charity on highly subsidised terms, averaging around £186,750 per year, or just £2 per square foot.
‘Key partners’ in St Margaret’s House include the Edinburgh Judo Club, the Bridge Pottery Collective, Care for Carers, Upward Mobility (Upmo), the Leith Lapidary Club, and the Edinburgh School of Icon Painting.
The 2023 plans approved by the City of Edinburgh Council would see the building demolished and replaced by a 361-bed student accommodation development alongside 107 residential apartments.
The Caledonian Trust says that the building is no longer up to scratch and would require extensive remediation works to safeguard its future.
A spokesperson for Caledonian Trust said: “We have fully communicated that St Margaret’s House has been on the market for some time.
“We’re in discussions with a preferred party, but the process isn’t finished and it would be inappropriate to provide any more detail.
“St Margaret’s House has been an important home for independent artists and freelancers in Edinburgh and we have been proud to support them.
“However, the building is decades old and no longer meets the standards needed for its long-term future.
“Scot-ART has held the lease on the building for many years, on very generous terms, and is now serving notice to its sub-tenants.
“Vacant possession is targeted for January 2027, with plenty of time for people to plan ahead.”
Scot-ART has been approached for comment.
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