Latest news with #GlasgowMela
The Herald Scotland
25-07-2025
- The Herald Scotland
Glasgow is struggling but best days could be yet to come
But it's not all bleak, far from it. There are promising signs that Glasgow is starting to rediscover its stride. City centre footfall figures have been steadily improving, a clear indication that people are returning, whether for work, shopping, hospitality or cultural experiences. This isn't just anecdotal. The data shows a gradual yet encouraging return of vibrancy to our streets. For the first five months of this year footfall is up by 9% on last year with some months almost matching the pre-Covid performance. Recent events such as the Glasgow Mela, TRNSMT, Pride, and quite frankly a summer of warm weather, have all encouraged people back into the city to rediscover all that it has to offer. The City Council has taken a lot of criticism for the city's appearance, but it would be wrong to suggest that they have not been responding. Returning visitors will find a considerable amount of work is being done to freshen up our city centre through The Avenues programme, a major £120m infrastructure investment initiative which is designed and driven by Glasgow City Council. Funded chiefly by the UK and Scottish Governments through the Glasgow's City Deal, the Avenues Programme aims to make the city centre more attractive, especially for pedestrians, and it will set a standard for the quality of the public realm we would like to see rolled out across the city centre. Read more: George Square is perhaps the most visible project now under way, but the City Council has also published plans for streets in the retail heart including Argyle Street, Queen Street, Ingram Street and George Street. A good example of what the finished product could look like is on Holland Street and Pitt Street around the Moda Living housing development on the site of the former police station. The broken and patched up pavements are gone and have been replaced with good quality stone, more pedestrian space and fresh green landscaping. Rethinking the access for buses along Argyle Street is also helpful as it will take pressure off surrounding streets. These works will only succeed in the longer term if they are well maintained. If after a few months paving stones are broken, or street furniture is left unrepaired, the decay will quickly set in. It was therefore encouraging that the City Council budget for this year allocated an additional £20m for the upkeep of roads, pavements and parks alongside funds for increasing the staff devoted to cleansing. Admittedly these new resources are for use across the entire city, but the message from citizens is getting through, more needs to be done to get our city centre back into shape. However, city recovery cannot depend solely on the City Council. Local authorities and public agencies play a pivotal role but so must the local business community. The current process to put a city centre Business Improvement District (BID) to a vote reflects a shared ambition among many businesses to contribute proactively. A successful BID would mean businesses contributing could direct funds to deliver improvements. Depending on their choices there could be a higher standard of cleanliness, greater security and better maintenance of street furniture, more than the City Council can currently afford to deliver on its own. More importantly is the role of the private sector in funding the repurposing of empty offices and redundant shop units. The public sector doesn't have the funding needed, but the public sector can make decisions and set policies that make investment attractive to the private sector. Even as we make progress locally, decisions from the [[Scottish Government]] can disrupt or delay that momentum. The recent calling-in of planning approval for the ABC site, a critical site for the regeneration of Sauchiehall Street, is one such example. The site next to the Mackintosh building is sensitive and high profile. Seven years have passed since the fire that left it destroyed, and it is a blight on [[Sauchiehall Street]]'s recovery. Local decision-making, grounded in local understanding and expertise, must be respected if we're to make real strides. Over £70m of private funding is now on hold as we await the Scottish Government's review. If the decision is over-turned or even if the review process is drawn out, that investment will be lost and the site left derelict for many more years ahead. If substantial public money was made available different options could be explored but no offer has ever been made. Similarly, the Housing Bill's impact on investor confidence has been a serious concern. At a time when Glasgow is grappling with vacant properties that could be repurposed into much-needed homes or mixed-use spaces, policies that deter investment are undoubtedly stalling regeneration. It's frustrating to see opportunities slip away when the city is otherwise ready to act. We know anecdotally that investors who were previously keen to invest in Glasgow have turned their attention to other cities because of the uncertainty that the Housing Bill has created. Ultimately, the story of Glasgow today is one of cautious optimism. The challenges are real (and visible) but so too is the energy to address them. Local leadership, business engagement, and targeted investment are starting to make a difference. What we need now is alignment of local ambition matched by national support. If we get that right, Glasgow's best days needn't be behind it – they're still to come. Stuart Patrick is chief executive of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce
Glasgow Times
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
More than 21,000 people flock to Kelvingrove Park for Glasgow Mela
This year's festival took place on Sunday, June 22. Despite the rainy start to the day, the largest South Asian festival of its kind in Scotland treated festivalgoers to performances from acts like Gtown Desi, Saloni, and Maya Lakhani. (Image: Kris Kesiak for Glasgow Life) The event, which is delivered by the charity Glasgow Life, is described as a "gathering" and is a South Asian celebration of Glasgow's diverse communities. It aims to promote local artists and their cultural heritage. Read more: Greek's anger at Rangers' Champions League venue advantage 'We blew it' - Bernardo admits to shock Portugal Euro U21s defeat Glasgow Jazz Festival concludes 39th edition with record-breaking performances Attendees sampled food from around the world, joined in a variety of sports, and took part in discussions and workshops on themes including health and wellbeing through the arts, music and memory, and the role of South Asian artists in experimental practices. There was also a collaboration with Glasgow Life Museums' Intercultural Youth Group to support the Scottish-Asian Creative Artists' Network's aim to discuss key issues within and for South Asian communities. (Image: Kris Kesiak for Glasgow Life) Bailie Annette Christie, chair of Glasgow Life and convenor for culture, sport and international relations for Glasgow City Council, said: "Seeing thousands of people pack out Kelvingrove Park for the Glasgow Mela is always a sight to behold. "The 2025 Mela proved why Glasgow is known the world over as a diverse, multicultural city full of artistic talent. "The Mela is a firm favourite in Glasgow's cultural events calendar and provides fantastic free performances and a fun day out for everyone. (Image: Kris Kesiak for Glasgow Life) "This year was particularly special as the spirit of Glasgow 850 was woven into the programme. "Throughout the year we are seeing our established city events and festivals really embracing what this special year means to them and using the themes of the year and storytelling to excite, educate and entertain their audiences." The festival was awarded £50,000 from Creative Scotland for 2025-26 and will benefit from £169,100 of funding over the next three years.
BBC News
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Glasgow Mela draws big crowd to Kelvingrove Park
Scotland's largest South Asian festival drew more than 21,000 people to Kelvingrove Park on hailed crowds at the Glasgow Mela as "a sight to behold", with live music, art and workshops on offer throughout the also sampled food from around the world and tried their hand at a mix of sports including tennis, pickleball, kabaddi and was the 35th edition of the event, after it started in 1990 as part of Glasgow's European City of Culture celebrations. Bailie Annette Christie, chairwoman of organisers Glasgow Life, said: "Seeing thousands of people pack out Kelvingrove Park for the Glasgow Mela is always a sight to behold. "The 2025 Mela proved why Glasgow is known the world over as a diverse, multicultural city full of artistic talent. The Mela is a firm favourite in Glasgow's cultural events calendar and provides fantastic free performances and a fun day out for everyone."This year was particularly special as the spirit of Glasgow 850 was woven into the programme." Acts including Gtown Desi, Saloni and Maya Lakhani performed at the Mela, which means means "gathering" in aims to promote local artists and their rich cultural heritage, with funding provided by Creative Scotland.
Glasgow Times
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow Life announces 2025 Summer of Events programme
The programme will offer a dynamic mix of free and low-cost cultural events and family-friendly entertainment across some of Glasgow's most iconic venues and public spaces. The summer festivities will kick off with the Glasgow Mela on Sunday, June 22, in Kelvingrove Park. READ MORE: Ally McCoist dubbed 'Scotland's James Bond' after Easter posts The city's signature multicultural festival, the Mela, will showcase an eclectic mix of music, dance, and arts, featuring performers from Glasgow, across Scotland, and around the world. Acts already confirmed include Gtown Desi, Saloni, and Maya Lakhani. Alongside the main stage performances, visitors can sample a range of international cuisine and take part in sporting activities such as kabaddi, volleyball, tennis, and pickleball. Kelvingrove Bandstand will host panel discussions and workshops exploring themes like health and wellbeing through the arts, music and memory, and the role of South Asian artists in experimental practices. (Image: Kris Kesiak) A special collaboration with Glasgow Life Museums' Intercultural Youth Group will also be featured during the event. Following the Mela, the spotlight will shift to the Merchant City Festival, which returns from Friday, July 18, to Sunday, July 20. Transforming the heart of the city into a hub of live music, performance, circus, and dance, this year's theme, Fair: Play, celebrates Glasgow's traditional Fair Fortnight. The festival will include programming from Scotland's children's theatre agency Imaginate, outdoor arts collective Surge Festival, and Bridgeman Arts. Newly commissioned street performances from Scotland, England, Ireland, and Wales will debut as part of the Four Nations bursary programme. In celebration of Glasgow's 850th anniversary as a Burgh, this year's festival will launch with a mass participation ceilidh, blending tradition and celebration in true Glaswegian style. READ MORE: Glaswegians warned of holiday chaos as mass protests planned at hotspot The summer will come to a rousing close with the World Pipe Band Championships, taking place at Glasgow Green on Friday, August 15, and Saturday, August 16. The event will see the best pipers and drummers from around the globe compete for the prestigious world title. Running alongside the championships will be Piping Live!, Scotland's largest piping festival, which will take place from August 11 to 17, featuring performances, competitions, and cultural events throughout the city. (Image: Alan Harvey - SNS Group) Billy Garrett, director of culture, tourism, and events at Glasgow Life, said the summer programme is a cornerstone of the city's cultural calendar. He said: 'There is a lot to get excited about in Glasgow this summer, with the Mela, Merchant City Festival and World Pipe Band Championships promising fantastic days out and a chance to make unforgettable memories with family and friends. "Our Summer of Events programme is central to the city's cultural events calendar and helps to improve people's mental, physical and economic wellbeing by offering something fun for everyone to enjoy.' READ MORE: Cult-favourite Glasgow sandwich spot to join city's new food hub The Glasgow Mela and Merchant City Festival were among seven successful applications by Glasgow Life for Creative Scotland's Multi-Year Funding for 2025 to 2028. On January 30, Creative Scotland confirmed that the Mela will receive £50,000 in 2025–26, with total funding of £169,100 across three years. This year's Merchant City Festival will benefit from £62,834 in funding, with a total award of £227,167 over the same period. Glasgow's 2025 Summer of Events is shaping up to be a season to remember. To keep up with the latest announcements and full event details, residents and visitors alike are encouraged to subscribe to the Glasgow Life newsletter.
