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New creative activities & opportunities for communities in Glasgow

Ten Glasgow-based projects have been selected as part of the Creative Communities Glasgow programme, which will support and empower community-led creative activities for people & communities who face barriers to participating in culture.

Creative Communities Glasgow is developed and delivered by Inspiring Scotland and is made possible thanks to funding from Glasgow City Council’s Communities and Place Fund, part of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

£600,000 has been awarded in direct funding to invest in project activities. Each project will receive between £11,000 – £80,000 to develop a range of initiatives involving culture and creative arts to build connections, reduce isolation and develop new skills over the next two years. Projects include:

• Glasgow Disability Alliance will use the funding to further its ‘Purple Poncho Players’ drama group, producing songs, drama, poetry and comedy that reflects the lived experience of disabled people.
• Toonspeak Young People’s Theatre will work alongside children and young people aged 5-25 from North Glasgow through Pantomime Magic and create a pilot pantomime production.
• The Village Storytelling Centre work in Greater Pollok will support a group of local people to become ‘Citizen Storytellers’ on a project about ‘Connecting Pollok: Past, Present & Future’.

Ando Glaso image

Ando Glaso, a Roma-led charity will host weekly workshops and events with Roma people in Glasgow to engage with, and strengthen, their cultural heritage through music and dance. The activities seek to increase intra-community cohesion between different Roma groups, reduce isolation, build connections within the wider Glasgow creative industries, and increase the profile of Roma culture within Glasgow.

Janos Lang, Director, Ando Glaso said: “We are delighted to receive generous support from Inspiring Scotland to empower Roma people through our cultural heritage. This allows us to continue working with our diverse Roma communities of Glasgow and ensure that our people and culture are included in the city’s cultural life.”

Refuweegee banner

Refuweegee will use the funding to support refugees and asylum seekers in Glasgow to expand its community workshops and undertake a collaboration with Chamber Music Scotland.

Selina Hayes, Chief Executive, Refuweegee said: “We are so pleased to receive support from Creative Communities Glasgow. The value of creative expression can never be underestimated. We look forward to increasing our creative programme and welcoming more people into our space to make art, connections and friendships.”

Erica Judge image

Erica Judge, Director of Funds at Inspiring Scotland said: “Creative Communities Glasgow celebrates the power of culture to connect, inspire and transform people’s lives.

“We are delighted that the ten Creative Communities Glasgow projects will support such a diverse range of community-led creative activities for people & communities who face barriers to participating in culture across the city.

“Not only will the programme help people access creative arts that they would not have otherwise, by coming together they can strengthen community ties, improve mental wellbeing and reduce loneliness, learn new skills and most importantly have fun and feel joy and pride.”

Find out more about the ten Creative Communities Glasgow projects

Find out more about Creative Communities