The Demarco Archive Trust is in need of support.

With the impending closure of Summerhall Arts Centre, we are forced to find a new home for the Archive; the life’s work of Professor Richard Demarco (Summerhall up for sale).

Our immediate need is to move half the collection to a new location at The Crichton in Dumfries; site of the Dumfries campus of Glasgow University, the Open University and Dumfries and Galloway College. At Summerhall, we will continue to maintain and allow access to seven rooms of art focused on the history of the Edinburgh Festival and important historical information throughout this year’s Festival. These rooms will highlight Richard Demarco’s historical connection with the Festival throughout the past 77 years, as well as the artistic highlights of his more than 60 expeditions behind the Iron Curtain throughout the Cold War and beyond.

During this time Richard was responsible for discovering and promoting the work of significant artists in order to develop cultural and educational dialogues between the UK and Europe, and introducing these artists to the UK through his gallery and the Edinburgh Festival.

We are now faced with raising the funds needed to facilitate an initial move of half the archive to The Crichton, while continuing to pay rates and rent on the remaining seven rooms at Summerhall, until the final move to a new permanent home in the Spring of 2025. A conservative estimate of costs for all of the above, as well as taking this opportunity to do the necessary conservation and repairs of the works damaged in the recent flooding at Summerhall, is estimated to amount to something in excess of £50k. This will also enable us to review the Demarco archive as a large-scale total artwork, take this opportunity to review the collection and professionally conserve as many art works as possible.

This is the first phase of our plan to undertake a significant fund-raising programme, so that we can provide a fitting permanent home for this collection of international importance.

Please, if you can, consider making a gift now to the Demarco Archive Trust so that we can continue to give life to this important and unique living work of art, and to celebrate the life’s work of Richard Demarco as he approaches his 94th birthday. With no support from central or local government The Demarco Archive Trust has always depended on the generosity of private charities, concerned individuals and the association of Friends of the Demarco Archive who have shared Richard’s vision for an inclusive collection of works which links Scotland and Edinburgh to the artistic and cultural life of Europe.

Please forward this page to any individual or institution you know of who might be supportive of our mission to maintain and expand this life’s work of Richard Demarco which is of national and international importance.

If you have never been to Summerhall to see the collection, please feel free to contact us directly to arrange a visit and a tour by Richard; The Demarco Archive Trust website.

Here is a short film explaining the significance of the Archive; The Demarco Archive film.

Thank you for taking the time to read and consider our appeal and for any support you can give.

Edward Schneider

Trustee and Director of Development

The Demarco Archive Trust