Pupils Create Art for New Riverside Museum

Eleven children from primary schools across the city have created drawings which are being displayed on hoardings around the site of the Riverside Museum construction site at Pointhouse, Partick.

A competition run through the Education Weekly Bulletin by the Riverside Museum Appeal, chose six lucky schools as winners. In the West – Thornwood and St Brendon. In the East – Avenue End. In the South – Battlefield, Langside and Blackfriars schools.

The children were asked to come up with a drawing of their favourite object in the current Museum of Transport in the West End or how they envisaged travel would look in the future.

Now the blue walls around the Museum site are adorned by brightly coloured pictures of transport of the past and the future.

The pupils joined with television personality Carol Smillie, Councillor Archie Graham, Deputy Chairman of the Riverside Appeal and Mary Grant, Managing Director of First Scotrail at a special unveiling event last month.

Derek MacLauchlan of Avenue End Primary School, designed an image based on transport of the future. His drawing of a car with rockets is bold and modern. Angela Mulholland, deputy head teacher at his school said: ‘It is nice for the children to be involved in a wider competition such as this. Derek is delighted as are the rest of the school.’

Gemma Conroy of St Brendon primary school spent four weeks on her drawing with support from her art teacher, Caroline Bennett. Head teacher Donal Currie said: ‘It is nice when something positive like this happens. Gemma is a lovely pupil and deserves the success.’

Humera Ahmed, Kyle Shields, Zino Merrouche and Lisa Robertson from Blackfriars Primary School produced their winning pictures of traditional transport at a school fun day. Head teacher John Lawson said: ‘When the children are out and about they like seeing people using older forms of transport. It is really good for them to see their work displayed somewhere where others can get enjoyment from it.’

Councillor Archie Graham said: ‘The children’s entries have been every bit as creative and colourful as the city’s transport history and are a fitting advertisement for the Riverside Museum.’

The artwork will remain around the site until the museum opens in 2011. The new museum, which will replace the Museum of Transport at Kelvin Hall, is being funded by Glasgow City Council and the Heritage Lottery Fund which has put in £69 million. The Riverside Museum Appeal aims to raise the further £5 million required with £1.7 million of that already in hand. Riverside Donors are those gifting up to £5,000, Riverside Benefactors are those donating more than £5,000 and an individual can become a Riverside Patron if they donate more than £50,000. Visit www.glasgowmuseums.com and follow the links to find out how to donate.