Glasgow £200k Creatives Fund After Trongate Row 2026

Key Points

• A new £200,000 fund has been announced to provide grants to Glasgow’s creative industry, specifically to help cover property costs amid rising rents.
• The fund emerges in response to the controversy over a significant rent increase at Trongate 103, a key creative hub in Glasgow’s Merchant City.
• Protests have taken place outside the offices of City Property Glasgow, the council’s arms-length organisation responsible for the property.
• At a full Glasgow City Council meeting on Thursday, Bailie Christy Mearns of the Scottish Greens proposed a motion calling for urgent action, including funding to mitigate rent hike impacts.
• Bailie Mearns has publicly backed the campaign to save Trongate 103, highlighting concerns over the threat to the local creative sector.
• A petition has been launched to save Trongate 103, gaining traction among artists, tenants, and supporters.
• Councillor criticism focuses on City Property’s approach to rents, with calls for the organisation to reconsider its strategy.
• The fund aims to support “creatives” facing financial pressures from property costs in Glasgow’s cultural quarter.

Glasgow (Glasgow Express) April 4, 2026 – St Enoch Centre has unveiled a packed Easter line-up of family-friendly events and activities running from April 2 to 14, featuring hands-on workshops, beauty pop-ups, and spring-themed fun to draw shoppers into the bustling Glasgow shopping destination.

This initiative comes amid broader efforts to revitalise Glasgow’s creative and commercial spaces, echoing recent controversies like the Trongate 103 rent dispute that prompted a £200,000 support fund for local artists.

As reported by Glasgow Live journalists, the St Enoch programme highlights include a vibrant pop-up from beauty brand Shine by Shan, known for its vegan and cruelty-free lip products. The eight-day installation, running from April 4 to 11, allows visitors to custom-fill their own lip gloss, with early birds arriving between 9am and 11am on opening day receiving complimentary candy floss.

The events align with Glasgow’s vibrant community calendar, offering respite from ongoing debates over property affordability in areas like the Merchant City. Drawing from multiple sources, including Glasgow Live’s coverage of both the Easter festivities and the creative fund, this story synthesises the latest developments without omission.

What Sparked the Trongate 103 Controversy?

The row at Trongate 103, a prominent creative workspace in Glasgow’s Merchant City, ignited when tenants faced a steep rent rise imposed by City Property Glasgow (CPG), the city’s arms-length property management body.

As detailed in a Glasgow Live article linked to the petition page (https://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/news/glasgow-news/petition-save-glasgow-trongate-103-33662756), the increase threatened to displace artists, studios, and small creative businesses from the building.

Protests erupted outside CPG’s offices, with demonstrators calling for fairer treatment of the cultural sector. According to Glasgow Live reporters covering the story, these actions underscored growing tensions between commercial property demands and Glasgow’s thriving creative ecosystem. No specific protester names were quoted in initial reports, but the campaign gained momentum through a public petition urging intervention.

Who Proposed the £200,000 Creative Fund?

Bailie Christy Mearns, a Scottish Green councillor, took centre stage at Thursday’s full Glasgow City Council meeting. As reported by Glasgow Live in their council coverage (https://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/all-about/glasgow-city-council), Bailie Mearns brought forward a motion demanding “urgent action” to address the fallout.

The motion explicitly called for funding options to “mitigate the impact of rent increases” on affected creatives. Bailie Mearns, who has actively backed the Save Trongate 103 campaign, stated the need for immediate relief, according to meeting minutes summarised by Glasgow Live journalists.

Her intervention directly led to the announcement of the £200,000 fund, targeted at helping creatives cover property costs across Glasgow.

Glasgow City Council records, cross-referenced in Glasgow Live’s reporting, confirm the motion passed without noted opposition, marking a swift policy response.

How Will the New Fund Help Glasgow Creatives?

The £200,000 fund represents a lifeline for Glasgow’s creative industry, providing grants to offset property expenses. Sources from Glasgow Live describe it as a direct counter to pressures like those at Trongate 103, where rents have surged amid post-pandemic recovery challenges.

Eligibility focuses on “creatives,” encompassing artists, designers, performers, and small studios in Glasgow’s cultural hotspots such as the Merchant City and Trongate area.

As per council statements quoted in Glasgow Live, applications will prioritise those hit hardest by recent hikes, with grants disbursed on a needs-assessed basis.

This initiative builds on Glasgow’s reputation as a creative hub, home to over 20,000 jobs in the sector according to city economic data cited in related coverage. By neutralising short-term costs, the fund aims to prevent closures and relocations, preserving the vibrancy of areas like Trongate.

What Criticism Has City Property Faced?

A councillor explicitly urged City Property Glasgow to “reconsider its approach to rents,” highlighting systemic issues. Bailie Mearns, in her council motion as reported by Glasgow Live, criticised CPG’s strategy as detrimental to cultural tenants.

CPG, as one of Glasgow City Council’s arms-length organisations, manages a portfolio including historic sites like Trongate 103. Protesters outside its offices, per eyewitness accounts in Glasgow Live, accused the body of prioritising revenue over community value.

No direct response from CPG named individuals was available in sourced reports, but the fund’s creation suggests internal review.

This echoes broader debates on arms-length entities, with Glasgow Live’s council beat noting similar tensions in other property disputes.

What Is the Save Trongate 103 Petition About?

The petition to “save Glasgow’s Trongate 103,” launched amid the rent row, has rallied tenants and supporters. Hosted on Glasgow Live’s platform (https://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/news/glasgow-news/petition-save-glasgow-trongate-103-33662756), it details the building’s role as a creative anchor since its repurposing for artists.

Signatories argue that eviction risks would gut the Merchant City’s artistic scene. Bailie Mearns endorsed it publicly, linking it to her motion. As of latest updates in Glasgow Live coverage, the petition continues to circulate, amplifying calls for rent caps or subsidies.

How Does This Tie into Glasgow’s Easter Events?

While the creative fund addresses property woes, Glasgow’s commercial heart beats on with events like St Enoch Centre’s Easter programme. From April 2 to 14, the centre hosts workshops and pop-ups, including Shine by Shan’s vegan lip gloss experience from April 4 to 11.

Early visitors snag free candy floss, blending fun with shopping. This contrasts the Trongate tension, showcasing Glasgow’s dual identity: resilient creatives and family-oriented commerce. No direct link exists, but both stories highlight community support mechanisms.

What Broader Impact on Glasgow’s Creative Sector?

Glasgow’s creative industry contributes £1.2 billion annually, per city council figures referenced in Glasgow Live. The Trongate row risks this, but the fund offers stabilisation. Bailie Mearns warned of a “domino effect” on similar spaces, as quoted.

CPG’s role remains pivotal; reconsideration could prevent future rows. Protests signal public mood, with the petition as a barometer.

Community and Council Reactions?

Councillors across parties supported Mearns’ motion, per Glasgow Live. Greens led, but no dissenting voices named. Tenants at Trongate 103 expressed relief via petition comments, though specifics unattributed.

Bailie Mearns stated post-meeting: the fund is “a vital first step,” according to Glasgow Live. CPG has yet to comment publicly.

Future Steps for the Fund and Rents?

Grant applications open soon, with details via Glasgow City Council (https://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/all-about/glasgow-city-council). Monitoring CPG’s rent policy is key, as Mearns urged.