Picture the welcome to Glasgow

Thursday 7 March 2013

Winning photographs of Glasgow were unveiled at Glasgow Airport this week.

The twenty amateur photographers took up a challenge from Glasgow Doors Open Day last year to produce images of the city’s landmark buildings. The competition winners were: 1^st – Surjit Paul for his ‘Geometric Impression’ of the Riverside Museum. 2^Nd – Bobby Borland’s ‘Take a Seat’ at Glasgow University. 3^Rd – Chris Bonnington for an interior shot of Glasgow City Chambers. 4^Th – Bill Crookston for an ‘Unusual view of the front of the Sir Norman Foster & Partners’ Clyde Auditorium.’  Some of them are pictured at the unveiling (above) at Glasgow Airport.

Run in conjunction with the Creative Mackintosh Festival, the competition attracted 150 entries from members of the public. The final 20 photographs will now highlight Glasgow for visitors arriving at the airport.

Said Gordon Matheson, Leader of Glasgow City Council and Chair of Glasgow City Marketing Bureau: ‘These wonderful images capture the breadth and wonder of our city’s architecture. They offer a fitting welcome to Scotland’s most stylish city and greatly complement the friendly welcome, for which we are world-renowned. When visitors step off the plane and witness this photography display, they will instantly know they have arrived somewhere special.’

Steven Marshall, Marketing Manager at Glasgow Airport said: ‘We are very pleased to have such high quality images showcasing the city’s leading attractions to welcome international visitors and those returning home.’

Glasgow Building Preservation Trust, which runs Doors Open Day and Glasgow Mackintosh Group which promotes the work of architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh will continue to collaborate to promote the city. Glasgow’s Doors Open Day will take place on 21 and 22 September this year.

All the photographs can be seen on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.294938167278305.56740.238112722960850&type=3

 

The real Goal is friendship

Friday 22 February 2013

There was no real score kept of the football match today between students from Hollybrook Academy in Glasgow and counterparts from Maerkisches Berufskolleg in Unna, Germany.

But the friendly game – possibly 8 -8 – played at Toryglen indoor football centre, was great fun. It was followed by a visit to

Hampden Football Museum.

Said Mary Farrell Head Teacher of Hollybrook in Govanhill: ‘We have a jam-packed itinerary planned for our visitors, including trips to the Riverside Museum, Anniesland College, Xscape and orienteering in Mugdock Park.’

Some of the local students – aged up to 18 – and the German visitors – aged up to 23 – plan to hire kilts for their final fling – a ceilidh at the end of the two week visit. Said DJ NotNot alias Declan McNaughton (16): ‘We’ve sorted out the music for the night. There will be chart stuff, ceilidh music and music the German visitors want.’ Added DJ Barbie alias Stephen McLauchlan (17): ”All the equipment is organised as well as the lighting and the food.’

The two schools for young people with additional support needs, have been in touch through an initiative funded by the British Council supporting a bilingual Comenius Project.

Said Hollybrook teacher Silke Bryce, who is German and taught English before coming to live and work in Scotland: ‘This is a two year sports and leisure project. It allows an exchange of teachers and students and stimulates them to learn about each other’s country, culture, life style and language.’

The Glasgow students aim to travel to Germany next year but they haven’t worked out yet what they can do about kilts…

Woman found dead in the river

The body of a woman was taken from the River Clyde near Napier Drive, Govan around 8.45am on Saturday 1 December 2012.  Emergency services attended, but the woman was pronounced dead at the scene which is across from the Riverside Museum.  Strathclyde Police say a post mortem will be carried out to establish the exact cause of death. Till then, the death is treated as ‘unexplained.’

EDITORIAL

The Princess Royal popped in to the Riverside Museum to open it formally. She was almost the 1 millionth visitor.  In less than six months since the public started streaming into the iconic building, more than 900,000 people have entered. There is no doubt it is popular.

On  similar floor space to the old Transport Museum, there are more than double the number of items on display.  Some of the interactive games were designed by school children who also serve on a Junior Board.  There is no doubt there is a lot to see and do.

But transport to get to and from the place is difficult.

Try walking from the city centre. Choose the picturesque river walkway. It is blocked at several points necessitating the walker to move out to the main road. Then, once off the walkway and past the heliport at the former pump house where the Tall Ship was moored for a long time, the person on foot walks on earth, finds derelict land fenced off to the left and rough embankment leading up to the road on the right. And along the entire route there is only one make-shift sign.

Alternatively, take the river crossing from Govan. Well you can’t now. It has closed for the winter. And there must be a question mark over the cost of such a large vessel being used to cross the few metres from one bank of the river to the other. A small open boat with an outboard engine would do the job in a more sustainable fashion.

Let’s get the connections improved before the 1 million mark. Then everyone can be equally proud of this gem of a place.

Princess Royal opens Riverside Museum

The Princess Royal delighted more than 150 special guests at Glasgow’s new £74 million Riverside Museum when she formally opened it today. (Friday 11 November 2011)
Pupils of St Constantine’s Primary School in Govan who are on the Junior Board at the Museum and who had designed one of the interactive games which are proving so popular, had a ringside view as the Royal party left. Said Luis McCann who with Claire Wasige, is current champion at their game: ‘The best thing about today was the Princess.’
That was echoed by Councillor George Redmond, Chair of Glasgow Life, who escorted the Royal visitor through many of the exhibits: ‘In four and a half months we’ve had 945,000 visitors here, which is quite remarkable. Everyone who had played a part in this has looked forward to this day.’
Lord Provost Bob Winter as Lord Lieutenant who stands in for the Queen on occasions in Glasgow added his thanks to everyone ‘behind the scenes,’ in particular. ‘The design, building and operation of the Riverside Museum is wonderful. The project was delivered on time and within budget. The sheer dedication of the entire team is remarkable and everyone should be rightly proud of the treasure trove we possess.’
The Princess Royal, too, was clearly enthusiastic about the Museum. After unveiling a plaque to commemorate her visit, she said:’It has been a pleasure to see this place that has had rave reviews. The praise is entirely appropriate.’
On congratulating everyone concerned she added: ‘Long may the visitors continue.’

The Princess Royal also went aboard the Tall Ship Glenlee, one of only five Clyde built sailing ships of that kind afloat in the world.  Moored in front of the Museum, it has recently undergone a £1.5m refurbishment.  Said Dr Christopher Mason, who heads the Trust which runs the Tall Ship:  ’It is always good to get royal recognition for staff and volunteers – it is a great boost to everyone’s morale.  The Princess took great interest in our work and we hope she will come again.’

Games routes being sorted

Detailed plans to improve the river bank at Lancefield Quay and Anderston Quay have been drafted in preparation for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Consultation with elected members is underway although most community councils will not meet between now and the Friday 29 July deadline.

‘I have asked for the times to be extended to take this into account,’ said Bailie Nina Baker of Anderston Ward.

According to George Gillespie, Assistant Director of Land and Environmental Services, the aim of the plan is to improve, significantly, pedestrian and cyclist provision. ‘We also wish to incorporate permanent flood prevention measures between the Kingston Bridge and Clyde Arc bridge,’ he said.

This route will be a main spectator corridor between the city centre and venues at the SECC complex in 2014. It will also help access to Ibrox and Kelvingrove games venues and the Riverside Museum.

Following the comments of elected representatives, the plans will be revised and a one day “pre-planning” consultation event is anticipated in early August when City Council officers will explain the proposals in more detail to Councillors. This will be followed by the public at large and other interest groups having the chance to comment through the statutory planning process in September 2011 when the revised plan will be submitted. Currently a contractor is likely to be appointed in December 2011 and work should be carried out between January and June next year.

* If you have ideas to improve the Lancefield Quay or Anderston Quay embankments for pedestrians or cyclists send them to us at: franklinfeatures@gmail.com and we’ll publish them and pass them on.

Riverside regatta

The river will come alive a little on Saturday 16 July from 10am till 6pm when a regatta will be in full sail around the new Riverside Museum. Billed as a ‘great day for all the family’, expect to see water displays including wakeboarding – a cross between jet skiing and surfing – with the WaveScot team and the first ever Riverside Rowing Regatta featuring Sea Cadets. The tall ship Glaciere will sail in from Liverpool to tie up near the existing Glenlee. Both vessels will welcome people aboard though there will be a charge for that. There is, still, no charge to go into the Riverside Museum which is now taking the title of Scotland’s Transport Museum.

Outside the Riverside Museum, there will be a variety of exhibitors including Clyde Waterfront, Galgael, the Royal Marines and various children’s activities brought as part of the Cadbury’s Spots and Stripes London 2012 Olympics campaign.  

Councillor George Redmond, Chair of Glasgow Life, said: ‘The Riverside Museum has been enormously popular since it opened last month and many visitors have been delighted by the close links it has to the River Clyde. The Clyde Waterfront Riverside Regatta will be a spectacular day for all the family.’

* IF you have visited the Riverside Museum – what are your comments on the experience?  Email us on: franklinfeatures@gmail.com

Editorial

Glasgow launches into a great new era with the Transport Museum and a river ferry to get to its door.  The proud claim that ‘Glasgow made the Clyde and the Clyde made Glasgow’ was true early last century. So far in this 21st century,  the River Clyde is dead of any meaningful, daily, traffic around the city. Perhaps the ferry fielding small numbers of people from Govan’s Water Row to the exciting Riverside Transport Museum will be the start of a renaissance of river craft plying the water. Certainly a one-day Regatta (organised from Bristol!) will brighten things for the day on Saturday 16 July for those who chance to find out about it.

With the Glenlee so majestically moored at the entrance to the Riverside Museum, it is a fitting location for such a fascinating ikon which sheds light on even earlier maritime exploits.  But where are the visual references to the world class war ships which are now reaching the end of their production cycle at Govan and Scotstoun yards? Will the Riverside Museum transport us into a new age when water craft will ease the congestion on roads and the damage to the planet of the infernal combusion engine? We’ll find out as the tide ebbs and flows.

 

After sacrifices, artist Patricia to build on Aspect Prize

Glasgow lawyer-turned-painter Patricia Cain has won Scotland’s premier arts prize for her radical depictions of the city’s new Riverside Museum.
Patricia, 46, won the £15,000 Aspect Prize after beating three other talented artists with her images of the city’s rapidly changing waterfront. The competition attracted nearly 160 entries.
After turning her back on the legal professional, Patricia studied for a doctorate, which was awarded by the School of Art in 2008.
Westender Patricia said: ‘I am stunned. It’s been a very hard process. I gave up a lot to be able to make art. In the last five years, money has been my biggest worry.
‘We really have been living on the breadline, as most artists do. I went from having a stable job to being a struggling artist. Winning the Aspect Prize makes all the difference in the world.’
Her success was announced at the Fleming Gallery in London by art lover and Taggart actor Alex Norton. Three runners-up, Alec Galloway from Inverclyde, Renfrewshire-born Scot Sinclair who lives in Lafayette, Louisiana, and Glasgow’s Paul Kennedy, each received £5,000.
Chairman of the panel of judges, Charles Jamieson, commented: ‘The confidence and complexity of her paintings made Patricia a clear winner and although judging was difficult, in the end it was the strength and impact of the work itself which swung it in her favour.’

Riverside Museum takes shape

Work is continuing on the new Riverside Museum building at the point where the River Kelvin meets the Clyde. Due for completion in April 2011, the exterior is nearly complete and work has started in earnest on the interior. The building features a distinctive front elevation which is designed to resemble the Glasgow skyline. The shape then continues in a unique wave shape towards the river Clyde, rising eight metres along the way. Designed by award winning architect Zaha Hadid, the entire building will be covered in a flowing tessellation of interlocking zinc panels, giving a unique metallic appearance. Construction manager Jim Ward gave LOCAL NEWS a whistle stop tour of the site to let us see how the work is progressing. Jim said: ‘This building is so unique, it’s a real pleasure to work on it. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity. The whole idea is that the building moves from the city, represented by the front entrance, to the river, represented by the flowing design, out to the wider world.’ The building design takes visual references from the industrial size sheds used to build ships on the river. Although the floor space is the same as the present Transport Museum, the unique design means that it is put to better use. Cars will be hung on the walls from special support struts, or displayed on a sloping track known as the ‘Rest and Be Thankful.’ The street scenes in the current museum will be re-created, and the subway train will also have its own special home in the new museum. Centrepiece at the river side of the building will be the tall ship Glenlee, which will move from its current berth. Clyde Maritime Trust will have workshop space within the museum, and will bring small crafts up out of the River Kelvin and into the workshop for repairs and maintenance.