Latest news with #GlasgowLife
Glasgow Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow museum plans to loan art for tour in China
Objects which are expected to give an 'exquisite and culturally-rich view' of the visual arts in Italy from 1400 to 1800 could be loaned out to form an exhibition titled 'Prosperous Symphony – Italian Treasures from Glasgow Museums'. The plan is for the first venue, in Shenzhen, to display the items from September this year before they are shown 'in five or six other cities'. They would return to Glasgow in 2028 and could then be displayed in Kelvingrove Museum. The council's city administration committee will be asked to approve the plan on Thursday. 'With a new international strategy, regular trade missions, links between the city's universities, businesses and China and the targeting of a direct air route into the city, the timing to use an exhibition as cultural exchange and the backdrop for other initiatives is now,' a council report states. The report, which is set to be presented by Bailie Annette Christie, SNP, the city convener for culture, sport and international relations, adds the tour will 'leverage more visibility for the city, its businesses, visitor economy, cultural significance and academic institutions'. This could result in 'more awareness of Glasgow in a number of cities across China', it states. Glasgow Life, the council's culture and leisure arm, which Bailie Christie chairs, plans to work with partners across the city to 'take advantage' of the exhibition. The report states Glasgow Airport is targeting a direct China to Glasgow air route to complement two direct flights per week — four in summer — between Edinburgh and Beijing. Ideas to promote the tour include using the University of Glasgow's networks, as it has 9,000 Chinese students as well as alumni who now work in China. Connections through Glasgow's chamber of commerce, which aims to attract inward investment from businesses in Beijing and Shanghai, will also be explored. It is hoped that the exhibition will mean Glasgow contributes to the Scottish Government's drive to 'deepen economic, social and cultural ties with China'. Research by the UK tourist board, VisitBritain, has found Chinese people associate Britain highly with museums, opera and films, the council's report adds. Alongside 33 paintings, the collection includes examples of ceramics, glass, marble sculpture, textile, arms and armour. To promote Glasgow, there would be information about the city within the exhibition. An exhibition of the city's Italian art went on tour to the United States in 2013 and all but one of the paintings and objects have been in storage since. Paintings which were shown in America included Titian's 'Christ and the Adulteress' and Sandro Botticelli's 'The Annunciation', which once hung in the Church of St Barnabas in Florence. A minimum of three tour venues are needed for the exhibition to be economically viable. Glasgow Life would be working with NOMAD Exhibitions on the tour, which has estimated around 100,000 visitors per venue. A three-way agreement with NOMAD and Sun Pavilion Culture and Technology Co, which helps develop exhibitions, would be signed, outlining the responsibilities of each partner. Glasgow Life is expected to receive a fee from each of the host museums in China. In 2023, China was Scotland's fifth largest long-haul international market by number of visits, and fourth by number of nights and expenditure.
The National
3 days ago
- Business
- The National
Glasgow museums' Italian collections to tour China
Objects which are expected to give an 'exquisite and culturally-rich view' of the visual arts in Italy from 1400 to 1800 could be loaned out to form an exhibition titled "Prosperous Symphony – Italian Treasures from Glasgow Museums". The plan is for the first venue, in Shenzhen, to display the items from September this year before they are shown 'in five or six other cities'. READ MORE: Winners announced for oldest book prize in the UK They would return to Glasgow in 2028 and could then be displayed in Kelvingrove Museum. The council's city administration committee will be asked to approve the plan on Thursday. 'With a new international strategy, regular trade missions, links between the city's universities, businesses and China and the targeting of a direct air route into the city, the timing to use an exhibition as cultural exchange and the backdrop for other initiatives is now,' a council report states. The report, which is set to be presented by Bailie Annette Christie, SNP, the city convener for culture, sport and international relations, adds the tour will 'leverage more visibility for the city, its businesses, visitor economy, cultural significance and academic institutions'. This could result in 'more awareness of Glasgow in a number of cities across China', it states. Glasgow Life, the council's culture and leisure arm, which Bailie Christie chairs, plans to work with partners across the city to 'take advantage' of the exhibition. The report states Glasgow Airport is targeting a direct China to Glasgow air route to complement two direct flights per week — four in summer — between Edinburgh and Beijing. Titian's Christ and the Adulteress is another famed Italian painting currently residing in Glasgow that could be headed on the road (Image: Glasgow Museums) Ideas to promote the tour include using the University of Glasgow's networks, as it has 9,000 Chinese students as well as alumni who now work in China. Connections through Glasgow's chamber of commerce, which aims to attract inward investment from businesses in Beijing and Shanghai, will also be explored. It is hoped that the exhibition will mean Glasgow contributes to the Scottish Government's drive to 'deepen economic, social and cultural ties with China'. Research by the UK tourist board, VisitBritain, has found Chinese people associate Britain highly with museums, opera and films, the council's report adds. Alongside 33 paintings, the collection includes examples of ceramics, glass, marble sculpture, textile, arms and armour. To promote Glasgow, there would be information about the city within the exhibition. An exhibition of the city's Italian art went on tour to the United States in 2013 and all but one of the paintings and objects have been in storage since. READ MORE: Met Police silent after unlawful seizure of pro-Palestine journalist's property Paintings which were shown in America included Titian's 'Christ and the Adulteress' and Sandro Botticelli's 'The Annunciation', which once hung in the Church of St Barnabas in Florence. A minimum of three tour venues are needed for the exhibition to be economically viable. Glasgow Life would be working with NOMAD Exhibitions on the tour, which has estimated around 100,000 visitors per venue. A three-way agreement with NOMAD and Sun Pavilion Culture and Technology Co, which helps develop exhibitions, would be signed, outlining the responsibilities of each partner. Glasgow Life is expected to receive a fee from each of the host museums in China. In 2023, China was Scotland's fifth largest long-haul international market by number of visits, and fourth by number of nights and expenditure.
Glasgow Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow friends for 65 years share memories of city
Long-time members Kristine Walsh and Liz McCallum have popped out for a moment to share their delight at having been part of the much-loved library's 100th birthday party earlier in the year. 'It was a wonderful celebration,' says Liz, smiling. Kristine agrees: 'Children from the local primary sang old songs, there was cake - it was lovely.' Library staff with Glasgow Life chief executive Susan Deighan (Image: Robert Perry/Newsquest) Both women are 77 – 'I think people expect wee old ladies, when they come to the local history group, but my only concession to old age is that I put a vest on today because it was a bit cold,' says Kristine, dryly – and are full of stories about the library and the local community. 'There are still air raid shelters on Wellshot Road,' says Kristine. 'There's also the 'honeymoon building' – it's actually the Honeyman building because it was designed by architect John Honeyman, who worked with Charles Rennie Mackintosh – but my mum told me it got its name because only young, married couples with no kids could afford to live there,' says Liz, smiling. 'There even used to be a 'play street' in Shettleston, where traffic wasn't allowed so children could play safely.' Liz and Kristine met, aged 12, at Eastbank Academy, when they sat next to each other in German class and 65 years later, they are still friends. 'I grew up in Shettleston, Kristine lived in the prefabs in Sandyhills and we just hit it off,' says Liz. 'And we both loved the library. Our mums brought us, until we were old enough to come by ourselves. 'My parents didn't have a lot of money, so this was a way for me to access all these books I would never have read otherwise. 'I felt like I belonged here.' Kristine adds: 'We read Enid Blyton, the Chalet School girls' books, WE Johns and Biggles, Anne of Green Gable … everything we could find. "I used to come on a Friday night with my mum and she'd get cowboy books for my dad." (Image: Robert Perry/Newsquest) Liz is a retired teacher, who moved away from Glasgow with her husband Donald when their children were young. 'Shettleston was always home, though,' she says. 'I used to bring my grandson, Aaron, here, when he was younger – he's 19 now.' Sadly, Donald died seven years ago, says Liz, who now lives "through the wall" from Kristine and her husband Bill. 'Libraries are essential, and it's great that this one is still going strong,' says Liz, firmly. 'It's been an important part of our lives for so long." Shettleston Library (Image: Robert Perry/Newsquest) The striking red brick and blond sandstone library on Wellshot Road was commissioned together with Shettleston Public Halls and Parkview Day Hospital, but 100 years on, the library is the only one that remains in use. It was officially opened by then Lord Provost Sir Matthew Walker Montgomery, on February 20, 1925. It still has the Glasgow crest, featuring the bird, tree, fish and bell, carved above its wooden front door, and an old stained glass depiction of St Mungo, rescued from a skip during refurbishment, is proudly suspended over the reception desk. (Image: Robert Perry/Newsquest) 'The layout has completely changed in 100 years,' says Kristine. 'There used to be beautiful curved steps at the front door, and a lovely hallway.' Liz adds: 'I remember the reading room, where men would sit with their newspapers.' She pauses, adding with a grin: 'Women were allowed to go in, but it was only the men who had time to sit about reading.' READ NEXT: Glasgow's newest mural has the East End talking - here is why Hit Scottish TV comedy returns as musical 30 years on 'Townhead was obliterated': Billy Elliot star on his Glasgow roots Kristine recalls the children's library was in a separate section. 'The librarian was very strict, and you had to make sure your hands were clean before you were allowed in,' she says. Liz agrees. 'Libraries were very different then – you'd never have had children in singing and making a noise in those days,' she says. 'You were practically whispering all the time. 'But what hasn't changed is how helpful and knowledgeable the librarians are. They are really fantastic.' Norma Richmond has worked in the city's library service for 42 years, but she has a soft spot for Shettleston, where she has been based on and off for almost 30 years. 'I have a real connection with this place,' she says, smiling. 'I'm so proud we're still here, still serving the community. All libraries are worth their weight in gold, in my mind, so I hope we are still here, 100 years later.'
The Independent
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Aye Write festival to return in November
The Aye Write book festival is to return in full in November after a programme of pop-up events last year following funding issues. This year's festival will take place across 11 days from Thursday November 6 until Sunday November 16 as the event celebrates its 20th anniversary. Wee Write, a book festival entirely for children and young people, will return in March 2026. Last year's festival was cancelled after Creative Scotland turned down its bid for funding. However, a series of pop-up events was held, boosted by a £65,000 donation from a charitable foundation set up by late EuroMillions winner Colin Weir. This year, Glasgow Life was awarded £262,500 from Creative Scotland's 2025-28 Multi-Year Fund for the delivery of Aye Write in 2025, 2026 and 2027. Bailie Annette Christie, chairwoman of Glasgow Life, said: 'We're really looking forward to the return of Aye Write this year and marking an incredible 20 years of Glasgow's much-loved celebration of books, storytelling, and the love of reading. 'We are grateful to Creative Scotland for their support and our festival team is busy planning an inspiring and diverse programme of pop-up and festival events. 'We can't wait to welcome readers, writers and book lovers back to Aye Write over the coming months and during November.' In the lead-up to this year's Aye Write, the festival will host a series of pop-up events again, the first of which will be Liam McIlvanney in conversation with Scottish literature expert Dr Valentina Bold. He will be discussing his new psychological thriller The Good Father in the event at the Mitchell Library on Thursday July 31. Tickets for this event are on sale now and available from The wider programme for Aye Write 2025 as well as ticket and venue information will be unveiled in the coming months.
Glasgow Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow's Aye Write book festival set to return in 2025
Organisers Glasgow Life have now revealed that the literary bash will celebrate its milestone 20th anniversary across 11 days from Thursday, November 6 until Sunday, November 16, ahead of Book Week Scotland taking place later in the month. However, the junior version – Wee Write – will not return until March 2026. In the lead up to this year's Aye Write, the festival will again host a series of pop-up events. The first of these, Liam McIlvanney in conversation with Scottish literature expert Dr Valentina Bold, inspired by his new psychological thriller The Good Father, will take place at The Mitchell Library on Thursday 31 July. The book festival is returning after a year's absence (Image: NQ) Tickets for this event are on sale now and available from The wider programme for Aye Write 2025 as well as ticket and venue information will be unveiled in the coming months. Aye Write is produced by Glasgow Life, the charity that leads culture, events and active living in Glasgow, with support from Creative Scotland. In January this year, Glasgow Life was awarded £262,500 from Creative Scotland's 2025-28 Multi-Year Fund for the delivery of Aye Write in 2025, 2026 and 2027. READ MORE: 10 firms in the Glasgow area named for not paying National Minimum Wage Opening date revealed for global retailers brand-new Braehead store Bailie Annette Christie, Chair of Glasgow Life, said: 'We're really looking forward to the return of Aye Write this year and marking an incredible 20 years of Glasgow's much-loved celebration of books, storytelling, and the love of reading. 'We are grateful to Creative Scotland for their support and our festival team is busy planning an inspiring and diverse programme of pop-up and festival events.
