Centre for Contemporary Arts


The Centre for Contemporary Arts is an arts centre in Glasgow, Scotland. The year-round programme includes exhibitions, film, music, literature, spoken word, festivals, Gaelic and performance. The Centre works with artists, commissions new projects and presents them to the widest possible audience.
CCA is situated on Sauchiehall Street and houses a number of cultural tenants, including Saramago Cafe Bar, and also has a flat for visiting artists.
The building was previously home to the Third Eye Centre, founded as a multi-media arts centre by Tom McGrath in 1974. CCA operates an open source programming policy, where organisations and individuals are offered space in the building to programme their own events. In 2015 to 2016, CCA worked with 244 programme partners across 1,011 events and 28 festivals.
CCA curates six major exhibitions a year, presenting national and international contemporary artists in the gallery space. The building is also home to Intermedia Gallery, showcasing emerging artists. CCA offers a programme of artist residencies in the Creative Lab and internationally.
In 2015, CCA launched a public engagement programme which aims to extend access to CCA and has the prospect of cultural and social change explored through art. In 2015 to 2016, 60 activities took place in CCA and in communities throughout Glasgow.
CCA is home to a number of other cultural and artistic organisations. Cultural tenants include BHP Comics; Camcorder Guerillas; Cryptic; Document; Electron Club; MAP Magazine; LUX Scotland; Paragon; Playwrights’ Studio Scotland; Scottish Ensemble; Scottish Writers’ Centre; The List; Tom McGrath Writers' Room; University of the West of Scotland and Voice Business.
The building includes Saramago Café Bar and independent shops Aye-Aye Books and Welcome Home.
CCA is housed in the Grecian Chambers, a category A listed building, designed by Alexander 'Greek' Thomson in 1867 to 1868 and substantially renovated for its present use by Page & Park in 1998.
CCA is supported by Creative Scotland, Glasgow City Council, Glasgow Life, and the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation.