The Glasgow School of Art (GSA) has launched an appeal fund in the hopes of raising money for the restoration of its Mackintosh building.

Last month, a fire broke out at the famous building. Firefighters were able to save around 90% of the building and around 70% of its contents, but its library was destroyed.

GSA has already set up a Phoenix Bursary scheme to help students affected by the blaze to recreate lost work, but it is thought the cost of repairing the historic structure will be between £20m and £35m, in addition to the cost of replacing the lost contents.

The Scottish Government has pledged £5m in match funding towards the restoration costs, while the UK Government has said it will also made a "substantial contribution" once restoration costs are known. On Wednesday evening, GSA also confirmed that actors Peter Capaldi and Brad Pitt will lend their support to by becoming Trustees of the Appeal. Capaldi is a former art school student, while Pitt is a well-known fan of Charles Rennie Mackintosh, the architect who designed the building.


In a statement, Professor Tom Inns, Director of The Glasgow School of Art said: "Our priority to date has been to address the immediate physical and academic impact of the fire. We have been overwhelmed by the offers of support from around the world since the fire and are hugely grateful to all those people who have donated.

"This support, along with that of the Scottish Government, has been vital. It has enabled us to put in place the Phoenix Bursaries programme to help those students who were most affected by the fire.

"We are now beginning to look forward to the work we will need to do to return the Mackintosh building to its former glory, and to make sure it continues to be a fit and inspiring place for our students to make work."

Peter Capaldi, who studied Graphic Design at the institution, said: "I hope we can come together to help raise the funds to restore the Mackintosh Building it to its former grace.

"There is no greater symbol of the artistic spirit of Scotland than the Mackintosh Building. But more than that it is a symbol of where art belongs, rising as it does out of the heart of a great city. A mighty castle on a hill, it is a part of me, and of all Glaswegians."

(JP/IT)