The exhibition Migrant Garnethill is a community heritage project led by a small team of volunteer teachers and students from St Aloysius Church ESOL class (English for Speakers of Other Languages) in partnership with The Glasgow School of Art. The exhibition runs from 3rd – 10th May in the Garnethill Gallery (formerly The Reid Gallery Corridor in the GSA’s Reid Building).
The project explored some of the diverse histories of migrant communities who have settled in Glasgow’s Garnethill district over the past century. Many communities have historically passed through or settled in Garnethill, including Jewish, Belgian, and Greek Cypriot refugees who were fleeing persecution and conflict, whilst others were economic migrants in search of a better life, including Commonwealth citizens from Hong Kong, India, and Pakistan alongside Irish and Italian communities.
The Migrant Garnethill project has included research trips to the Mitchell Library and engagement with a number of local archives to research migrant and refugee stories from countries including Ireland, Italy, Poland, and China. The aim has been to begin to highlight the district’s rich migrant history and its influence on Sauchiehall Street and beyond.
The exhibition is accompanied by a short film by filmmaker and artist Basharat Khan, developed from discussions with the group. Artist, curator and workshop facilitator Alaya Ang has led the research visit and subsequent work relating to the histories of the Chinese community in Garnethill. Since March 2016, St Aloysius ESOL School, under the auspices of St Aloysius Church in Garnethill, has been hosting English language (ESOL) classes, as well as offering other help and support for refugees and asylum seekers from countries as widespread as: Syria, Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kurdistan (East, West and South), Iraq, Iran, Egypt, DRC, Kuwait, China, Vietnam and El Salvador. To date, over 4,000 ‘students’ have registered with us. Staffed only by volunteers, St Aloysius Church provides instruction in the four language skills: speaking, reading, listening and writing, to prepare those attending for their new lives in Glasgow: for work, or for their next move up to an ESOL SQA course at one of the Glasgow colleges of Further Education, or onwards to university, if they so wish, to pursue their studies.
This is part of a community heritage programme called Uncovering Sauchiehall Street, run by Glasgow Life. It is one of eight projects which have been awarded. The scheme aims to engage community and heritage organisations, social businesses, and local groups in conversations about Sauchiehall Street’s vibrant past, culture, and built environment.
Migrant Garnethill is part of the Sauchiehall Street: Culture and Heritage District, a 10-year plan run by Glasgow Life, in partnership with Glasgow City Council, and funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund UK-wide Heritage Places programme. The project is about bringing the community together to celebrate the history, culture, and creativity of this iconic street, and plan for its future and the long-term revival of the area.
The exhibition preview will take place on 2nd May and runs from 3rd – 10th May in the Garnethill Gallery (formerly The Reid Gallery Corridor in the Reid Building). The preview tickets are free, but please pre-book through Eventbrite.
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NOTES FOR EDITORS
The Glasgow School of Art (GSA)
The Glasgow School of Art (GSA) is internationally recognised as one of Europe’s leading independent university-level institutions for education and research in the visual creative disciplines. Our studio-based, specialist, practice-led teaching, learning and research draw talented individuals with a shared passion for visual culture and creative production from all over the world. Originally founded in 1845 as one of the first Government Schools of Design, the School’s history can be traced back to 1753 and the establishment of the Foulis Academy, delivering an European-style art education. Today, the GSA is an international community of over 3,500 students and staff and 22,000 alumni across architecture, design, fine art and innovation and technology in our campuses in Glasgow and Altyre (in the Scottish Highlands). www.gsa.ac.uk
Glasgow Life
Glasgow Life is a charity working for the benefit of the people of Glasgow. It believes everyone deserves a great Glasgow life, and it finds innovative ways to make this happen across the city’s diverse communities. Its programmes, experiences and events range from grassroots community activities to large-scale cultural, artistic and sporting events, which present Glasgow internationally. Its work is designed to promote inclusion, happiness, and health and support the city’s visitor economy, enhancing Glasgow’s mental, physical, and economic well-being.
National Lottery Heritage Fund
As the largest dedicated funder of the UK’s heritage, The National Lottery Heritage Fund’s vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future, as set out in its strategic plan, Heritage 2033. Over the next ten years, it aims to invest £ 3.6 billion raised for good causes by the National Lottery players to bring about benefits for people, places and the natural environment. It helps protect, transform and share the things from the past that people care about, from popular museums and historic places, our natural environment and fragile species, to the languages and cultural traditions that celebrate who we are. It is passionate about heritage and committed to driving innovation and collaboration to make a positive difference to people’s lives today, while leaving a lasting legacy for future generations to enjoy.
