THE Art School building he designed is in ruins and his crumbling Helensburgh Hill House needs major renovation work to save it.
Now, another Charles Rennie Mackintosh treasure is under threat, as the owners of the restored Willow Tea Rooms say they may not be able to reopen its doors after lockdown lifts.
The Glasgow city centre site – just minutes away from the fire-ravaged “Mack” building at Glasgow School of Art – spent years in disrepair before reopening to the public two years ago after a £10 million restoration.
Now known as Mackintosh at the Willow, it was first opened by businesswoman Catherine Cranston in 1903, who commissioned the designer’s work.
Thousands of children and students are amongst the visitors to take in its world famous interior since the restoration completed.
The not-for-profit Willow Tea Rooms Trust is now appealing to “art lovers everywhere” to help protect the building from closure due to coronavirus.
A crowdfunder seeking £20,000 went live yesterday.
Caitlin Divers, operations manager at Mackintosh at the Willow, said: “We are extremely grateful for Scottish Government support and the job retention scheme, allowing us to protect jobs for now, and, as a not-for-profit operation, we continue to apply for any grant funding that may be available. Even if we are fortunate enough to receive this support, we will still be unable to meet all the costs associated with running a heritage building without generating revenue, due to coronavirus.
“We are therefore asking for the support of anyone who can help as we aim to raise enough money to help safeguard part of Scotland’s cultural heritage and continue supporting young people and communities across Scotland.”
To donate, visit www.crowdfunder.co.uk/help-save-mackintosh-at-the-willow
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