Royal High School

S N P C

Scottish National Photography Centre

     ©

UPDATES from October 2003

Background

SNPC web site

UPDATE

1.

OCTOBER 2003

SNPC Web Site

There is now  an official SNPC web site that gives the latest news on

-  the lottery funding

-  the location of the Royal High School,

-  the building assessment

-  the appointment of  Sir Sean Connery as Patron

-  other aspects of the SNPC project.

You can also register your email address on the SNPC web site and subscribe to receive SNPC news updates.

Sir Sean Connery

Edinburgh Evening News announced [4 Oct 03] that the Edinburgh born film star, Sean Connery, has agreed to become one of two patrons of the Scottish National Photographic Centre, proposed for the Royal High School, beneath Calton Hill.

The other patron is to be Carol Colburn Hogel, a supporter of the Arts in Edinburgh.

It is proposed to provide education and conservation facilities and a   gallery for exhibitions of both historic and contemporary images.

A £50,000 lottery grant has been provided to pay for a 2-month study to assess the Royal High School's suitability, and to consider what restoration and improvement work is required.  This work is expected to cost at least £5m.

The project still appears to have widespread support from political parties, Edinburgh City Council and supporters of the Arts in Edinburgh.

[Edinburgh Evening News  4 October 2003,  p.8
 AND  Sunday Herald, 5 October 2003]

UPDATE

2.

JULY 2004

£1m Sponsorship?

It was encouraging to read on 22 July 04 that campaigning work to create the Scottish National Photographic Centre in the old Royal High School has been continuing, with enthusiastic support from the National Galleries of Scotland.

Funding is now being sought from both the public and private sectors.

The electronics giant, Sony UK, has become the SNPC's first corporate sponsor, with sponsorship of:

  -  "over  £1 million" [The Scotsman: 22 July 2004] or

  -  "an undisclosed six-figure sum" [Edinburgh Evening News: 22 July 2004].

Whatever the exact amount, it seems substantial.  Sony's contribution has been welcomed by Scotland's First Minister, Jack McConnell, and should enable the project to move forward to its detailed planning stage.

It is hoped that the SNPC will include an educational forum and  conservation centre, and will enable both historical and contemporary work to be shown.

UPDATE

3.

SEPTEMBER 2004

Opening when?

©

The feasibility work on how the Royal High School might best meet the needs of a Scottish National Photographic Centre is continuing under the leadership of Graeme Murdoch, Chief Executive, SNPC Ltd. 

It is hoped that it will be possible to open the centre in 2007.

UPDATE - APRIL 2005

A promotional video prepared for Tartan Week in New York in April 2005 refers to a Scottish National Photographic Centre opening date of 2008.

UPDATE

4.

DECEMBER 2004

SNPC Booklet

SNPC recently published a booklet titled Photography in Scotland:

-  outlining the plans to create a photographic centre at the Royal High School in the centre of Edinburgh.

Royal High School

   ©

An early engraving of the Royal High School.

[This image is not taken from the SNPC booklet.]

A copy of the Photography in Scotland booklet can be found on and downloaded from the SNPC web site.

Support for the Project

The proposal to create a Scottish National Photographic Centre in Edinburgh has received wide support.

The SNPC booklet:

-  has a forward by Scotland's First Minister, Jack McConnell

-  has a message from Edinburgh's Lord Provost, Lesley Hinds

-  summarises the work of some of Scotland's early photographers

- David Octavius Hill, Robert Adamson,  John Muir Wood, John Forbes White, John Kibble, Thomas Annan, James Valentine, George Washington Wilson, James Clerk Maxwell, William Carrick, William Notman and others.

-  summarises the work of some of Scotland's recent photographers

- Calum Colvin, Ron O'Donnell, Andy Wiener, Patricia Macdonald, David Williams, Robin Gillanders, Ian Rutherford and others.

Photographs

The booklet is illustrated with photographs by

- David Octavius Hill & Robert Adamson, George Washington Wilson, William Carrick, Alfred G Buckham, J Craig Annan, Joseph McKenzie, Calum Colvin, Albert Watson, Grace Robertson, Owen Logan, Stewart Attwood and Catriona Grant, Albert Watson and Ian Rutherford.

All the photographs listed above are from the Scottish National Photographic Collection, currently held by the National Galleries of Scotland (except for Ian Rutherford's photo which is part of The Scotsman collection.)

UPDATE

5.

APRIL 2005

USA Promotion

Plans for the new Photography Centre, including an exhibition of photographs of the Opening of the Scottish Parliament in 2004, are to go on show at New York Grand Central Station during New York's  Tartan Day celebrations in early April 2005.

There will also be a film and promotional booklet.  It is hoped that this will raise the awareness amongst potential sponsors.

[Herald & Post, 31 March 2005,  p.10]

UPDATE

6.

NOVEMBER 2005

Support sought from the Scottish Executive

The First Minister of the Scottish Parliament, Jack McConnell, and the Scottish Executive have been urged over the past month [to 14 November 2005] to give support to a £21m plan to convert the former Royal High School into a National Photographic Centre.

Edinburgh City Council, the National Lottery Fund and Sony have all given support to the plan, but the building has seen little use since the Royal High School moved out in 1969.  Without a suitable long-term use and spending of £10m on restoration now, the building is likely to deteriorate further.

The Edinburgh heritage body, The Cockburn Association, welcomes the proposals to convert the  building into a National Photographic Centre.

Michael Shea, Chairman of the SNPC has been less than impressed by a suggestion from the Scottish Executive that the collection should be housed in the VA Tech former engineering warehouse at Bath Road, off Salamander Street at Leith.

 Edinburgh Evening News, 14 November 2005, pp.1-3,10 AND
 Edinburgh Evening News, 15 November 2005, pp.9,17

UPDATE

Support for the former Royal High School

Following the recent appeal to Jack McConnell, and the Scottish Executive, to support the setting up of a Scottish National Photographic Centre at the former Royal High School, others have come out in support of this campaign.  They include:

-  Harry Benson (Beatles' photographer)

-  Trevor Yerbury (Edinburgh photographer)

-  Benjamin Tindall (Architect and designer of the Queen's Gallery at  Holyrood))

-  Lord James Douglas Hamilton (Member of the Scottish Parliament)

-  Michael Matheson (Member of the Scottish Parliament)

-  Pringle Fisher (Rugby player and  former Royal High School pupil)

-  John McGlynn (Hollywood actor and former Royal High School pupil)

-  Bob Malcolm (Broadcaster and former Royal High School pupil)

Central Scotland MSP, Michael Matheson, the Scottish National Party's culture spokesman, has tabled a motion in the Scottish Parliament in support of the SNPC.

No Support yet from the Scottish Executive

The Scottish Executive has still not given its support to the  of the former Royal High School. 

Edinburgh Evening News, 17 November 2005, pp.10-11, 15 AND
Edinburgh Evening News, 19 November 2005, p.13.

Support from MSPs ...

Within a week of the motion in support of creating the Scottish National Photographic Centre at the former Royal High School, 28 MSPs (Members of the Scottish Parliament) from across all parties had signed the motion.

Support has been received from Edinburgh City Council, the National Lotteries Fund, but not yet from the Scottish Executive.

Edinburgh Evening News, 23 November 2005, p.17.

... BUT no support from Jack McConnell

The comedian, Ronnie Corbett, who attended the Royal High School until 1947, has become the latest celebrity to back the plan for his former school.

He was apparently concerned that the Scottish Executive might be asked to contribute £12m to restore and refurbish the A-listed building.

The Scottish Executive comprises the First Minister, Jack McConnell the other Scottish Ministers.  All, except the Lord Advocate and Solicitor General, have to be MSPs. The Scottish Executive is the devolved Government is Scotland.  It is accountable to the Scottish Parliament.

The total cost of the project to convert the former Royal High School into the Scottish National Photographic Centre is estimated to be £21m. However, funding from the National Lotteries Commission is unlikely to be forthcoming unless the Scottish Executive gives its support to the project by early December 2005.

Many MSPs, Edinburgh Council Leader, Donald Anderson and SNPC Chief Executive, Graeme Murdoch are all hoping for a change of mind from Jack McConnell in the near future.

Edinburgh Evening News, 25 November 2005, pp.1, 5, 12.

UPDATE

7.

DECEMBER 2005

Request to consider Other Sites

By December 6, 2005, the Scottish Executive and First Minister Jack McConnell had still not given support to the campaign to create a Scottish National Photographic Centre at the former Royal High School, so SNPC Ltd withdrew their application for £4.8m of lottery funding for the £21m project.  They hope to re-submit their bid at the next opportunity, in six months' time.

The campaigners, SNPC Ltd have been asked to consider other sites as well as the former Royal High School, and have begun to do so.

Graeme Murdoch, Chief Executive of SNPC Ltd accepted that there were other buildings worth examining, such as the vacant Holyrood Park House, next to the Evening News office on Holyrood Road, but said "none had the immediate advantages of the historic Royal High".

Edinburgh Evening News, December 6, 2005, p.8

Further Support for former Royal High School

Further support for the photographic centre to be based at the Royal High School has continued to appear in the Evening News, including:

- an article on December 7, quoting messages of support from the Edinburgh City Council leader, Donald Anderson, director of the Cockburn Association, David McDonald and others.

-  A letter of support published on December 9, from Michael Gray, curator and photographic historian (1989-2004), Fox Talbot Museum, Lacock, Wiltshire, England and curators of photography at museums in Madrid, Ludwig, Cologne, Athens, Australia and Pennsylvania, USA.

Edinburgh Evening News, December 7, 2005, pp.4-5. AND
Edinburgh Evening News, December 9, 2005, pp.14-15.

UPDATE

8.

JUNE 2006

Old Town Fire Site?

The backers of the Scottish Photographic Centre are reported to be in talks with developers of the site where the Old Town Fire broke out in December 2002.

They are considering this site for the Centre, after being asked by the Scottish Executive to look at alternative sites, though they still favour the Royal High School.

Graham Murdoch, Chief Executive of SNPC added:

"We're still fully committed to the former Royal High School and it is still our top priority.  However, the Cowgate site could be an asset because it is very central and is an iconic location."

Edinburgh Evening News, June 23, 2006:  p.21

UPDATE

9.

JULY 2006

Albert Watson supports Royal High School proposals

Edinburgh-born celebrity photographer, Albert Watson, whose exhibition 'Frozen' opens in the City Art Centre in July 2006, hit out at the Scottish Executive's delays in approving the Royal High School proposals.

He has greed to donate part of his photographic collection towards the Edinburgh project.

Edinburgh Evening News, July 19, 2006:  p.16

Possibly in Glasgow?

Albert Watson expressed fears that as a result of these delays:

 "Edinburgh's cast iron case might lose out to Glasgow".

 He added:

"Creating a National Photographic Centre in Glasgow would be like opening an engineering centre in Edinburgh.  It would not make any sense"

Meanwhile the Evening News reported:

"Senior council sources have told the Evening News of fears Culture Minister Patricia Ferguson is collaborating secretly with Glasgow City Council's culture chief, Bridget McConnell - wife of First Minister Jack McConnell - to take the project west".

Edinburgh Evening News, July 19, 2006:  p.16

UPDATE

10.

AUGUST 2006

Royal High School

'scaled-down plan'

The Edinburgh Evening News reported on August 15, 2006 that plans were being drawn up for a scaled-down version of the £21m to convert the former Royal High School in Edinburgh into a Scottish National Photography Centre (SNPC).

Discussions have been taking place between those proposing the SNPC and Edinburgh Council leaders, and Andrew Holmes, Edinburgh's Director of City Development has joined the SNPC Board.

Edinburgh City Leader, Donald Anderson said: 

"As a council, we are still very enthusiastic about using the Royal High and the only problem historically in relation to the project was cost.  ... We wouldn't rule out any other site for the centre but it is certainly the best use o the Royal High by a long way that we can see."

Meanwhile, Graeme Murdoch has been released from his role as Chief Executive of SNPC.  He was the only employee of SNPC, and had been raising the profile of SNPC, but the project has now run out of funds to pay him.

Edinburgh Evening News, August 15, 2006:  p.7

UPDATE

11.

DECEMBER 2006

Royal High School

A Military Museum

An article appeared in the Edinburgh Evening News on December 26, 2006, describing a different use for the former Royal High School.

The newspaper reported that the 'One O'Clock Gun Association' hope to raise around £20m to refurbish the old school and build a museum to tell the history of Scotland's Regiments and individual war heroes.

Edinburgh Evening News, December 26, 2006:  p.9

The 'One O'Clock Gun Association' may not have been aware of the plans to create a Scottish National Photographic Centre in the former Royal High School.

The group taking forward plans for the SNPC has confirmed that they still favour housing the photographic centre in the former Royal High School.

See also 'UPDATE: AUGUST 2007' below

UPDATE

12.

JULY 2007

Following several months with little publicity for the museum, the Edinburgh Evening News reported:

Support

-  The new City of Edinburgh council was keen to see the plans for the a Photographic Museum at the former Royal High School go ahead.

-  Council leader, Jenny Dawe had pledged to back a bid to persuade the SNP administration to provide £20m funding.

-  Council deputy leader, Steve Cardownie also supported the project, believing that that the would be likely to be a major draw for visitors and that the venue would be a very appropriate place for the museum.

-  Sir Sean Connery is understood to have been lobbying the Scottish Parliament's First Minister, Alex Salmond and Culture Minister, Linda Fabiani, to support the museum.

-  The 'One o'Clock Gun Association' which had expressed an interest in converting the former Royal High School into a military museum, now say that they will look elsewhere if the photography centre bid is successful.

The Collection

- The museum is to be named the Hill Adamson in honour of the photographers David Octavius Hill and Robert Adamson.

-  The museum has secured access to the St Andrew's University archive of 350,000 photographs.

-  A new application for lottery funding is being prepared.

Edinburgh Evening News, July 16 2007, p.11
Edinburgh Evening News, July 17, 2007, p.7

UPDATE

13.

AUGUST 2007

Royal High School

Not to be a Military Museum

After discovering that running costs for a  museum in the Royal High School might exceed £1m pa, George Robinson, secretary of The One O'Clock  Gun Association has declared that his group will look for another location for their military museum.

They will consider various possible sites.  George Robinson said:

"We're looking at Leith now because it has a terrific amount of space and they are keen on getting a museum there as well.  This would tell the military story of Scotland

Royal High School

Hill Adamson Photography Centre

Meanwhile, work is continuing on the business plan to be submitted for lottery funding to create a photography centre at the Royal High School, to be known as the Hill Adamson Photography Centre.

Edinburgh Evening News, August 7, 2007:  p.10

UPDATE

14.

OCTOBER 2007

Business Plan

After having spent five years on the project, the taskforce is now putting finishing touches to detailed plans to create the Hill Adamson Centre in the former Royal High School at Calton Hill.

They intend to submit a full business plan to the Scottish Government within weeks, seeking the seeking the government's support for the project. 

Before Christmas, they plan to submit a bid for Heritage Lottery Funding to provide the bulk of the £21m required for the centre.

Hill Adamson Centre

It is proposed that the centre will include:

-  a museum

-  print study rooms

Edinburgh Evening News, October 11, 2007:  p.6

UPDATE

15.

NOVEMBER 2007

Tourist Orientation Centre

The Evening News quoted 'Hill Adamson insiders' as saying that Edinburgh Council was considering creating a 'Tourist Orientation Centre' alongside the proposed Hill Adamson National Photography Centre.  It was believed that this could help to bring several million visitors to the site.

Action Plan

The City Council has confirmed that it is considering options.  Its Action Plan is expected to be announced later in 2007.

Business Plan

Backers of the Hill Adamson photography centre are due to submit their Business Plan for the centre to the Scottish Government within the next few weeks.

Edinburgh Evening News, November 7, 2007:  p.19

UPDATE

16.

MARCH 2008

Proposed Development

Edinburgh Council has issued a development brief for the former Royal High School, which it now describes as 'block ten' of the city centre 'string of pearls'.

The brief proposes the former school's:

-  central campus building to be split between a museum, exhibition and cultural use (expected to be the Museum of Photography) and a Tourist Information Centre.

-   gym to be converted to a hotel, hospitality facilities or flats.

Proposals Welcomed

The council's proposals have been welcomed by backers of the Hill Adamson National Photography Centre. 

Backers of the photography centre are currently awaiting a response on whether or not they are to receive funding for their centre from the Scottish Government.

Edinburgh Evening News, March 15, 2008:  p.3

UPDATE

17.

MARCH 2009

Proposed Development

The Evening News  reported that City leaders had, today, launched a design competition, inviting developers to put forward their plans for the former Royal High School.

The council said:

"We've undertaken extensive consultation with the local community on the type of use that would best suit the site and it seems that either cultural or leisure use, with perhaps amenity, would be the most favourable."

Edinburgh Evening News, March 25, 2009:  p.5

The Evening News  wrote:

Photography Centre?

"A high-powered bid, backed by Sir Sean Connery, to turn it into a £20m National Photographic Centre has been abandoned, it emerged today.

The photography centre's backers, the Hill Adamson Trust, had tried to secure funding to move into the Royal High, but the charity has now withdrawn its lottery bid and is expected to be wound up, having run out of money.

It is hoped that the National Galleries of Scotland will take on the concept of establishing a national photograpy museum."  ***

Edinburgh Evening News, March 25, 2009:  p.5

***   The following day, the Evening News had further news about the creation of a photography centre at the Royal High School.

It wrote:

Photography Centre?

"Backers of plans to build a Scottish national photography centre in Edinburgh have insisted the scheme is still alive despite losing the support of council chiefs."

Edinburgh Evening News, March 26, 2009:  p.11