Places

Who’s it for? The meaning of welcome at Dundee ‘People’s Museum’

The young dads, a group of single parents, needed somewhere to take their kids at weekends. Why not try the museum, asked the outreach worker. “Oh no”, the young dads say. “That’s for posh people.” But then, persuaded, they come. They see among the displays Dundee football, factories, familiar faces, and they say, “Wow! This is about us. My dad, my granddad, worked in that mill….” […]

Murmur memories of Leith: audio documentary

The sign by the door says BATHS in big white letters. A voice in my ear says this is it. This is where Gina had her bath the night before she got married. What? Here in a swimming pool? […]

Rip It Up and Open Up: museums for everyday people

A gateway opens. Where does it lead? To a wider world? To inspiring people in unexpected places?  To be honest right now I have no idea, but I’m tentatively opening the gate…. Why? […]

Young Fathers: win-win for Scottish can-do creative spirit

  The audience falls silent as Alloysius Massaquoi takes the mic. ‘You’re hearing right,’ he says with a smile,  ‘I’m a black guy with a Scottish accent. I’m not here to take your jobs, or steal your women…’ A pause, the smile grows wicked… […]

Just do it: A Wall Is A Screen in Leith

How to create a pop-up, open-air short film festival? Just do it. When darkness falls city streets and blank walls take on a different identity. Is that a threat or a promise? […]

Journeys into space: Architecture Fringe 2018

Where shall we begin?  In an echoing Cumbernauld underpass maybe. Or with street artists painting forgotten parts of Kelty. Among poets of diversity congregating in Dunoon. Or with female dancers challenging the granite-grey masculinity of Aberdeen? […]

Message from the skies reveals HER story in Edinburgh

When darkness falls HER story comes to light. Fay Young takes an evening walk in Edinburgh and accidentally discovers a message from the skies. […]

Talking Feet…talking music

Remember that night?  Rummaging through memories of first gigs and ticket stubs to favourite places, Dougal Perman and Jim Gellatly can cover a few decades of Glasgow music.  […]

Knock knock: doors open day

  He felt the magic as soon as he walked inside. ‘It’s one of these places. You just felt it, you felt the music seeping through, you felt warmth…the Barrowland is one of these places, it’s oozing out, saying “Hellooo”.  And the Garage has got that too’.  […]

Tell the truth, shame Henry Dundas

‘So, why is there a big statue to him?’ Harry asks at the foot of the towering monument to Henry Dundas. The answer from ‘ Professor’ Jamie is deadpan but spot on the money: ‘He was a political powerhouse, Harry… and I think he may have paid for it himself.’ […]

The mystery of Paisley

‘Unravelling the air of enigma could be what gets Paisley the UK City of Culture Title in 2021.’ Edinburgh student Tess Mallinder Heron visits Paisley for the first time and finds a place of mysterious contrasts. […]

For Manchester, London and love of life

‘Singing louder, prouder now than cities twice the size, as twenty thousand voices strong, we sing a single song.’ Two years ago Tony Walsh wrote and performed We Are Manchester for the twentieth anniversary of the [...]