The collection includes exhibition records and programmes, photographs, film, posters and flyers, and artists’ correspondence documenting the people and creative practice that helped establish Glasgow as a major centre for contemporary art.

Since the CCA closed and the Sauchiehall Street building and its assets were listed for sale, Glasgow Life has worked with Creative Scotland and The Ballast Trust, a specialist archives charity for business records, to secure the collection for the city.

The CCA’s archive room (Image: Newsquest)

The acquisition was made possible through £75,000 funding from the Scottish Government funded Creative Scotland and will see Glasgow Life take responsibility for the archive’s long-term care and preservation.

 Glasgow Life’s City Archives team will now begin cataloguing the collection ahead of making it accessible to researchers, artists, students and the wider public.

Glasgow Life will also assess the most appropriate long-term home for the archive.

Jane Rowlands, Glasgow Life’s Head of Museums and Collections, Jane Rowlands, said: “The Third Eye Centre and CCA helped shape Glasgow’s reputation as a place for creativity and contemporary art.

“Securing this archive means an important part of that story will remain in Glasgow, where it can be cared for and made available to future generations.

“We’re grateful to Creative Scotland for making this acquisition possible, and to The Ballast Trust for its expertise and support.”

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The building which housed the CCA has attracted 13 expressions of interest “from organisations seeking to run the building as a cultural venue.”

The building’s future has been uncertain since the CCA closed its doors at the end of January, after its remaining board members decided to put the organisation into liquidation.

Scotland’s culture secretary has declared that the “legacy” of one of Glasgow’s longest-running artistic hubs must be honoured when the building reopens.

Màiri McAllan said her “primary objective” was to see the Sauchiehall Street site sustaining and building on the “cultural value” of the home of both the CCA and Third Eye Centre.

Commenting on the archive acquisition Ms McAllan said: “I am delighted that the archive of the Third Eye Centre and Centre for Contemporary Arts has been secured for public benefit. I have been clear that it should be publicly owned and accessible, given its importance to Glasgow and Scotland’s cultural heritage.

Iain Munro, Chief Executive of Creative Scotland said: “Creative Scotland is pleased to have provided £75,000 to Glasgow Life towards securing the Third Eye Centre and CCA Archive, protecting this important cultural resource and making it available to public and researchers.”

“The archive represents an important resource in Scotland’s contemporary culture, and its long-term preservation and accessibility will be invaluable for artists, researchers and the public for years to come.”