by Sophie Mamattah | Feb 24, 2022 | Art, Arts, Community, COVID19, Cultural Heritage, Cultural Regeneration, Culture, Digital, Events, Place, Power, Public Space, Renfrewshire, Resources, Uncategorised
The Grand Conversaziones series – part of the currently ongoing Paisley Exhibition – kicked off on the second Friday in February with a frank and fascinating exploration of Paisley’s Present. The event provided a timely reminder of the town’s assets – chief among them the internationally recognised Paisley Pattern – alongside an opportunity to reflect upon the path that Paisley is navigating out of the pandemic.
While the impositions forced upon us by the necessity for COVID19 lockdowns have been many, the enforced break from the norm has nevertheless caused many to reflect on what constitutes success and where we should seek to invest our effort when seeking to create vibrant, liveable and sustainable communities. (more…)
by Lan Pham | Feb 10, 2022 | Community, COVID19, Culture, Events, Paisley, Place, Power, Public Space, Renfrewshire, Resources, Uncategorised
Matt Baker’s post on a New Approach to Culture in Scotland asks – “perhaps it is time to ask a fundamental question about the way we do culture in Scotland? Could we consciously support a culture of participation and popular ownership of culture as a key part of our national toolkit towards a just transition from both Covid and Climate Change?”
Reading this article leads to reflections on what I’ve observed in Paisley regarding where and how cultural activities meet health and wellbeing activities. Can I answer this question based on the snapshot my observations provide? From this vantage point, Paisley has an entwined approach of supporting community empowerment and the cultural ecology; both before Covid-19 and in response to the pandemic (for examples see here and here) and, starting from the principle that culture is created and experienced by everyone. (more…)
by Carlton Brick | Jan 27, 2022 | Audience, City of Culture, Community, COVID19, Culture, Events, Learning
On boarding the 12.30 LNER high-speed from Edinburgh Waverly to London Kings Cross, little did I expect that the journey itself would begin in such a decidedly uncanny manner
Having taken our prebooked seats, applied earphones, and settled back to enjoy the 5-hour journey as best we could, a slight sense of unease then enveloped the carriage as the tannoy announced: ‘This is a dry train. No alcohol will be served on this train, and no alcohol is to be consumed on this train, between Waverly station and Newcastle.’ (more…)
by Rachel Lowther & Kerry Stewart | Nov 25, 2021 | Art, Artist, Arts, Commemoration, Community, Cultural Heritage, Cultural Regeneration, Culture, Events, Paisley, Place, Public Space, Renfrewshire, Uncategorised
We won’t use this blog to describe what happened inside the Glen Cinema, Paisley on Hogmanay 1929 – it is well documented online, in history books, and in the memories of the people of Renfrewshire and across the world. Instead we are using this blog as an opportunity to describe some of what we have learnt and experienced over the past two years while working on this project. (more…)
by Karen Nowland | Nov 11, 2021 | Art, Arts, Audience, Community, Culture, Events, Learning, Power, Renfrewshire, Resources, Skills, Uncategorised
We know that arts and cultural participation leads to a range of positive outcomes for children and young people, both in terms of their cognitive development and their wellbeing. Activities such as playing a musical instrument, performing in dance or drama, painting, sculpting or attending cultural performances, visiting museums and galleries during childhood, all contribute to improved educational attainment and improved social skills. Importantly, these experiences also help to develop many of the attributes necessary for a successful and fulfilling adulthood. (more…)
by Niclas Hell | Nov 4, 2021 | Culture, Internship, Learning, Research profile, Skills, Uncategorised
When working within social science in Scotland, it is perhaps particularly noticeable that opinions on relations with – and feelings towards – the UK tend to pop up quite regularly and, just about everywhere. Coming – as I do – from a nation (Sweden) whose history is shaped by the secessions of just about every neighbouring country, this intrigues me. In my mother tongue, it is not uncommon for people to speak of “England” when they mean the “UK.” This is especially common among Swedes who are above a certain age. (more…)
