Queen’s Park Performance Space Update!
BIG STEP FORWARD FOR COMMUNITY ARENA IN QUEEN’S PARK!
The creation of a versatile community performance space on the site of the former bandstand in Queen’s Park, Glasgow, has moved several steps closer to being realised, following a successful fund raising campaign by localcommunity councils and planning approval from Glasgow City Council. The aim of the project is adapt the century-old bandstand site, derelict for the last 15 years, and create a new multi-functional outdoor arena foruse by community and visiting performance groups. Music, dance, theatre, film, children’s activities, exercise classes and skating were some of the events requested by local people during extensive community consultation over the last two years.
Work is expected to take place this year on the first phase of the project which will restore and develop the arena terraces and provide a smooth, level performance space and new drainage and ground consolidation work. The space should be ready to host an events programme in 2012, in time for the 150th anniversary of the Park’s opening in September 2012.
The first phase is expected to cost about £230,000 and funding has been secured from the Landfill Communities Fund, the Southside Central, Pollokshields and Langside Area Committees of Glasgow City Council and the Strathbungo Society. The project started as a pilot project supported by the Scottish Government is pursuit of their empowering communities agenda and has made rapid progress since beginning in spring 2009. Glasgow City Council, who own the Park, have supported the project by undertaking investigative ground surveys and will assist with the remedial underground works, landscaping and drainage works in the surrounding area.
The project is being led by representatives of the four community councils which border the Park – Crosshill/Govanhill, Langside, Battlefield and Camphill, Mount Florida, and Shawlands and Strathbungo. It follows on from extensive consultations and presentations to local community groups and stakeholders. During the 2009 Southside Festival 94% of 717 respondents to a questionnaire indicated their enthusiasm for and interest in the project which answers a need for a range of music, drama, dance and other activities involving the whole community, and especially young people. The project design is the work of ZM Architects (Glasgow) who won the competition for the Arena design in 2010. The second phase of the project, estimated at £300k and consisting of a purpose designed staging structure for film as well as performing arts, and further seating and facility improvements will be the subject of a second stage fund raising campaign.
The project began in spring 2009 as a Scottish Government supported pilot project to see if community councils could work together in a common cause, an objective which has been realised and far surpassed. To enable fund raising and plan for the sustainability of the project under community management, the Steering group has now formed acharity and company limited by guarantee, Queen’s Park Arena Ltd.
Evelyn Silber, the Steering group chair, said, ‘ We are delighted that this community-led project has attracted such a high level of public and stakeholder support. We look forward to achieving phase 1 so events can begin there in 2012 and are looking to develop our operation to run the events programme. Full details of the project are on our new website – www.queensparkarena.org.uk
James Limb, chair of the Strathbungo Society, commented, ‘The Strathbungo Society is very pleased to be able to support the Queen’s Park Arena, which will offer such potential in a beautiful setting in the heart of the Southside.’
Media contacts:
Evelyn Silber (Steering group chair) 0141 649 7441;
Andrew Montgomery (deputy chair and Chair of Southside Festival) 07976 742565 James Limb (Strathbungo Society) 0141 423 5040