STRONG SUPPORT FOR PROJECT FROM LOCAL CONSULTATION

 

  

The creation of a flexible performance space using the terraced area of the former Queen’s Park bandstand  is being pushed forward by four community councils with support from the Scottish Government and Glasgow City Council. A small steering group representing the four community councils around the Park are leading the development stage of the project, which has £15k preliminary pump-priming funding from the Scottish Government. The steering group issued a questionnaire during the South Side Festival in May to seek the views of those visiting the Park and got an overwhelmingly positive response.

 

717 people responded to a questionnaire about the project undertaken on  23-4 May 2009 during the Southside Festival. An impressive 94%  said that having a new performance space in the Park would encourage them to use the park more frequently.

 

There was support for a wide range of  activities with pop, classical music and theatre, requested by 50% or more respondents, closely followed by rock, brass and traditional Scottish music and jazz.  Younger respondents (under 25)  were enthusiastic about the possibility of skating and ice skating as well as rock, pop and theatre. Those aged between 25 and 44 had a wide spread of interests led by classical, pop and rock music and theatre. Older respondents preferred classical music and theatre.

 

Respondents ranged from the under 18s to over 65s and came from right across the City and beyond.


 

–    39% came from G41, 42, 43, the areas immediately surrounding the Park

-     57%  came from the Southside

-          97%  came from Glasgow

-          3% came from outside Glasgow

 

63% were regular Park users visiting monthly or more frequently, mainly for relaxation and exercise, with children to use the play areas or to visit the Glasshouses.

7% were first time Park visitors.

 

A spokesperson for the Steering Group commented, ‘We are really delighted at the overwhelmingly positive response and thank all those who spared a few minutes of their time that weekend. Such strong local interest will help us raise the funds for the project. We will use this feedback, including new suggestions such as world music, children’s activities, outdoor exercise classes and so on, to help us develop our design brief, make links with community groups, schools and colleges, councillors and arts producers.’

 

 

A Vision for the Space

 

The responses suggest that the space should be very flexible to enable it to accommodate a range of activities from daytime children’s activities and exercise classes to daytime or evening sessions of drama, film, dance and larger scale musical performances from pop and rock to jazz and classical.

 

Key features of the new amphitheatre would be:

  • Restored and modified terraced seating.
  • A flat performance/activity area with a durable, well drained surface, suitable for flexible use with or without dedicated staging, canopy, projection screen, etc.
  • Electrical supply for sound and light systems.
  • Retention of existing planting – the sheltering hedge around the terraces and the  trees behind the performance area.
  • Adjacent WC facilities in existing block.
  • Flexible capacity to host drama, music, film, storytelling, children’s events, activities such as skating.
  • Capacity to host free and charge for events.
  • Options for one-off event catering and partnerships with local businesses to supply picnics etc.

 

This would be very much a community-based amphitheatre with local participation in its management board and in its programming. It would draw upon and offer a showcase to local talent from the wide range of colleges, arts organisations and cultural groups.  The amphitheatre would also offer a venue unique in the City and, as such, could host concerts, theatre and arts events that could attract people from throughout Glasgow and beyond.

 

  

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