ScotRail Foundation awards £7,000 to community projects in Glasgow

Last updated: Thursday, 14 February 2019

A visual arts display in Glasgow Central Station and a community music festival in the city have been given the go-ahead thanks to almost £7,000 worth of grants from the ScotRail Foundation Cultural and Arts Fund.

The ScotRail Foundation is part of the ‘ScotRail in the Community’ initiative and aims to empower residents making a positive difference in their local community.

Glasgow-based artist Stephanie Black-Daniels has been awarded £4,926 to create three large photographic prints that will pay homage to the Alston Street Theatre, which once stood where the station is sited.

She will work with four performance students from Glasgow City College, providing them with the chance to develop their skills, and inject colour and vibrancy into the station concourse.

A further £2,000 has been awarded to musician Andrew Robertson, who lives in the South of the city and plays in a local band called Ports of Essen.

Andrew will use the funding to deliver a day of musical performances at the band stand in Queens Park, providing local people with the opportunity to enjoy live music in a family friendly environment.

The funding provided to 18 groups and individuals throughout the country is the largest the Cultural and Arts Fund has ever made, with £60,215 being awarded to support local communities.

Applications are taken from groups or individuals across Scotland looking to fund arts, community recreation, or sports activities in the vicinity of a train station, or with a travel or safety theme.

James Ledgerwood, ScotRail Head of Economic and Community Development, said:

“It’s fantastic to see the real difference that these grants are making to local communities, and both Stephanie and Andrew have shown a real commitment to create something for the people of Glasgow to be a part of.

“We know how important the railway is to the communities we serve, and we want to do all we can to strengthen and support that link.”

Andrew Robertson, organiser of the music festival, said:

“We are incredibly excited to launch year one of South X Southside festival, in Queens Park Glasgow. We want to bring the community together for a one-day music festival featuring some of Glasgow’s best musicians in the historic Queens Park arena.”

Giles Ruck, CEO Foundation Scotland, said:

“We have been working with the ScotRail Foundation since 2016 supporting grassroot projects across Scotland. This latest round has attracted a number of projects which will connect communities to their railway stations, bringing colour and vibrancy to the stations and the thousands of travellers who pass through each day.”