Scottish art school famed for Mackintosh design, reform after fires
The Balmaclellan parish church window, depicting Jesus and possibly based on Alfred Webster’s drawing, is slated for relocation to a Dalry church as the Balmaclellan building is declared surplus. The Church of Scotland has submitted plans to move the century-old stained glass, which will be conserved and installed in a new frame to benefit from better natural light. Community groups are bidding to take control of surplus churches.
A round-up of recent Fringe reviews highlights how new plays and games are probing technology’s reach—from AI ethics in Prove You’re Human to aging and human longing in Lifelong Protocol and Water Colour, with sharp direction and performances shaping urgent conversations.
Edinburgh hosts major Deaf-inclusive productions on its main stages as part of the Fringe and Edinburgh Deaf Festival, highlighting collaboration between Deaf and hearing artists. The Singer features Jamie Rea and KT Tunstall, while Deaf Festival enters a multi-year Creative Scotland funding cycle, showcasing over 80 events across ten days.
The Scotsman letters and opinion pieces question water usage in firefighting, building safety standards, and governance. Contributors urge regulatory changes, better insurer engagement, and more accountability from Holyrood as Scotland revisits major safety and infrastructure concerns.
A wave of art and urban-design initiatives is reshaping public spaces in European cities. From Aberdeen’s Bon Accord Baths hosting a large-scale art installation to Glasgow’s archives becoming public, the trend emphasizes accessible, site-specific works that invite community engagement.
The Royal Scottish Academy showcases work drawn from grants awarded over 26 years, highlighting artists who have benefited from its funding since the early 2000s. The exhibition, titled 26, travels through decades of Scottish art, featuring pieces that reflect social and political themes, including Ben Quinn's politically charged works and Paloma Proudfoot’s provocative installation.