Scotland’s first Rock ‘n’ Roll Music Hall of Fame bids to make former CCA its permanent home

Landmark cultural attraction announces plans to make the former Centre for Contemporary Arts at 350 Sauchiehall Street its permanent home.

Scotland is set to gain its first dedicated Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame, with the official launch of ScotsRock, an ambitious new cultural destination celebrating the country’s extraordinary contribution to global music.

The project has already secured a founding donation and the support of some of Scotland’s most influential musicians and music industry figures. Today, ScotsRock can also confirm that it will submit a proposal and formal bid to locate the venue and establish its permanent home within the former Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA) building at 350 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow.

The organisation believes the iconic city-centre building offers an outstanding opportunity to create a world-class cultural destination while bringing a significant and currently vacant public building back into active use.

ScotsRock will become the first venue of its kind dedicated to honouring the musicians, bands, producers, songwriters and pioneers who have placed Scotland firmly on the global rock music map. The project has already attracted the support of leading figures from Scottish music, including Midge Ure, Lulu, Jim Kerr of Simple Minds, Travis and Del Amitri.

Midge Ure, whose career spans Ultravox, Band Aid and Live Aid, has agreed to become the inaugural Patron of ScotsRock.

Midge said: “This has never been done, and it should have been done. In hindsight, it’s a major mistake. For a small country we punch way above our weight when it comes to global musicians. If you go to Cleveland, their Hall of Fame is very American, so I ask myself, why are we not doing the same in Scotland? We should be... and I’m very proud to be part of it.”

ScotsRock has been made possible through a substantial seed donation from prominent Scottish social entrepreneurs and lifelong music supporters Bill and Fiona Gordon. Their initial financial commitment will establish the organisation’s foundations, supporting the creation of:

• A permanent exhibition and visitor experience

• A live performance venue

• Educational and outreach programmes

• A creative industries hub supporting emerging music and creative businesses

• Archive and heritage facilities

• And a year-round programme of permanent and temporary exhibitions, concerts, talks and special events celebrating both Scotland’s rock music legacy and its current artists

Bill Gordon said: “Scotland has given the world some of the most iconic voices in rock music. From the tenements of Glasgow to stages in Tokyo, New York, Sydney and beyond, Scottish artists have earned their place in history. It’s time we built something here at home that reflects that legacy and passes it on to future generations.”

Following extensive discussions about potential locations across Glasgow, ScotsRock believes the former CCA building represents a unique opportunity to create a nationally significant visitor attraction in one of Scotland’s best-known cultural districts. If successful, the building would become home to permanent exhibitions celebrating Scottish rock music, live performances, educational facilities, archives, recording and creative industry workspaces, community programmes and international touring exhibitions. The proposal would preserve the building’s long-standing cultural purpose while introducing a sustainable operating model capable of attracting visitors from across Scotland and overseas. Most importantly, the proposal offers the establishment of a much-needed regenerative focus for Sauchiehall Street with no ongoing reliance on public funding.

Bill Gordon added: “The former CCA is an extraordinary building with an equally extraordinary opportunity ahead of it. We believe it can once again become one of Glasgow’s most exciting cultural destinations—this time celebrating one of Scotland’s greatest international success stories: our music. We are grateful to Glasgow City Council and Glasgow Life for their continued engagement as we prepare our proposal and look forward to presenting a compelling vision for the building’s future.”

ScotsRock founders Bill and Fiona Gordon have today announced the senior team leading the project. The curatorial team includes respected music journalist and broadcaster Billy Sloan and music industry executive Ronnie Gurr as Senior Curators, alongside former television and radio producer Nick Low as Project Manager and filmmaker Craig Martin as Visuals Creator.

Billy Sloan said: “Music is something Scotland excels at internationally. Bands like Simple Minds, Travis, Texas and Deacon Blue are recognised around the world. To create a permanent home in Glasgow where people can experience that story and celebrate our incredible musical heritage is something I'm immensely proud to be involved in.”

Ronnie Gurr added: “Scotland’s rock music heritage is one of our greatest cultural assets. ScotsRock represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to preserve that legacy while creating a major new visitor destination that will support tourism, education, the creative industries and the next generation of Scottish musicians.”

With a target opening date of July 2028, ScotsRock has extended a formal invitation to the Cabinet Secretary for Education, Culture and Gaelic to meet the project team, review its business case and detailed business plan and to explore opportunities for collaboration as the project develops.