'Prestigious' city office for national arts body

SCOTLAND'S new national arts quango is to be based at Waverley Gate, the former General Post Office building which has struggled to find tenants since its revamp five years ago.

Creative Scotland, which will combine the Edinburgh-based Scottish Arts Council and Glasgow-based Scottish Screen, is expected to move in by the end of the year. Around 75 of the 113 staff it will employ will be based at Waverley Gate.

And the quango's move may entice other cultural bodies to relocate there as well. The decision is part of a deal which will see the city council take over the lease of the Scottish Arts Council's current headquarters in Manor Place.

That will free up Creative Scotland to move into its new office more quickly. The council would then relocate companies which occupy the old Royal High School – which is soon to be redeveloped – into the Manor Place office.

Council leader Jenny Dawe said: "As the pre-eminent arts and festival city, Edinburgh is the natural home of the newly established national cultural agency."