Glasgow Festivals
Encyclopedia
Glasgow Festivals include festivals for art
, film
, comedy
, folk music
and jazz
. Glasgow
also hosts an annual queer
arts festival
in November.
Unlike the Edinburgh Festival
(where the main festival and fringe festivals all occur around about the same time in August), Glasgow's festivals are spread evenly across the year, therefore ensuring a continuous annual programme of events.
. They were the International Exhibition of Science, Art and Industry
in 1888, the Glasgow International Exhibition
in 1901, the Scottish Exhibition of National History, Art and Industry
in 1911 and the Empire Exhibition
in 1938. The latter attracted 12.6 million visits, easily eclipsing the Festival of Britain
(1951) or the Millennium Dome
in London (2000). Glasgow also hosted the Industrial exhibitions as part of the Festival of Britain
in 1951.
Glasgow's Mayfest started in 1983 from the popular success of the STUC-organised May Day Parades and became Glasgow's first big public festival, covering theatre, music, dance, and visual arts and was Glasgow's attempt to rival the Edinburgh Festival
in August. However after three years of massive losses and increasingly controversial management it came to a close in 1997 when the local authority removed its half-a-million pound funding.
In 1988, Glasgow hosted its very successful Glasgow Garden Festival
on old docks opposite the SECC
, now home to the Glasgow Science Centre
at Pacific Quay
. Over 4.3 million people attended over 5 months, making it by far the most popular of the UK's five Garden Festivals held between 1984 and 1992.
Following the success of the Garden Festival, Glasgow was crowned European City of Culture in 1990 (having been nominated in Sept 1986) and featured an impressive year-long calendar of special events, inspiring the creation of several festivals which still continue today.
,(founded 1993), the Jazz Festival
(founded 1989), the West End Festival
(founded 1996), Merchant City Festival
(founded 2002), Southside Festival [founded 2008] and Glasgay!
(a queer arts festival which is one of the biggest gay and lesbian multi-arts festivals in Europe)(founded 1997).
Glasgow also hosts the annual World Pipe Band Championships
in August on Glasgow Green
, with over 8,000 musicians.
Art
Art is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect....
, film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
, comedy
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
, folk music
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
and jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
. Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
also hosts an annual queer
Queer
Queer is an umbrella term for sexual minorities that are not heterosexual, heteronormative, or gender-binary. In the context of Western identity politics the term also acts as a label setting queer-identifying people apart from discourse, ideologies, and lifestyles that typify mainstream LGBT ...
arts festival
Arts festival
An arts festival is a festival that focuses on the visual arts in all its forms, but which may also focus on or include other arts.Arts festivals in the visual arts are exhibitions and are not to be confused with the commercial art fair. Artists participate in the most important of such festival...
in November.
Unlike the Edinburgh Festival
Edinburgh Festival
The Edinburgh Festival is a collective term for many arts and cultural festivals that take place in Edinburgh, Scotland each summer, mostly in August...
(where the main festival and fringe festivals all occur around about the same time in August), Glasgow's festivals are spread evenly across the year, therefore ensuring a continuous annual programme of events.
Past festivals
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Glasgow held several Great ExhibitionsWorld's Fair
World's fair, World fair, Universal Exposition, and World Expo are various large public exhibitions held in different parts of the world. The first Expo was held in The Crystal Palace in Hyde Park, London, United Kingdom, in 1851, under the title "Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All...
. They were the International Exhibition of Science, Art and Industry
International Exhibition of Science, Art and Industry
The International Exhibition of Science, Art and Industry was the first of 4 international exhibitions held in Glasgow, Scotland during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It took place at Kelvingrove Park between May and November 1888...
in 1888, the Glasgow International Exhibition
Glasgow International Exhibition (1901)
The Glasgow International Exhibition was the second of 4 international exhibitions held in Glasgow, Scotland during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.-Summary:...
in 1901, the Scottish Exhibition of National History, Art and Industry
Scottish Exhibition of National History, Art and Industry
The Scottish Exhibition of National History, Art and Industry was the third of 4 international exhibitions held in Glasgow, Scotland during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.-Summary:...
in 1911 and the Empire Exhibition
Empire Exhibition, Scotland 1938
Empire Exhibition, Scotland 1938 was an international exposition held at Bellahouston Park in Glasgow, from May to December 1938....
in 1938. The latter attracted 12.6 million visits, easily eclipsing the Festival of Britain
Festival of Britain
The Festival of Britain was a national exhibition in Britain in the summer of 1951. It was organised by the government to give Britons a feeling of recovery in the aftermath of war and to promote good quality design in the rebuilding of British towns and cities. The Festival's centrepiece was in...
(1951) or the Millennium Dome
Millennium Dome
The Millennium Dome, colloquially referred to simply as The Dome or even The O2 Arena, is the original name of a large dome-shaped building, originally used to house the Millennium Experience, a major exhibition celebrating the beginning of the third millennium...
in London (2000). Glasgow also hosted the Industrial exhibitions as part of the Festival of Britain
Festival of Britain
The Festival of Britain was a national exhibition in Britain in the summer of 1951. It was organised by the government to give Britons a feeling of recovery in the aftermath of war and to promote good quality design in the rebuilding of British towns and cities. The Festival's centrepiece was in...
in 1951.
Glasgow's Mayfest started in 1983 from the popular success of the STUC-organised May Day Parades and became Glasgow's first big public festival, covering theatre, music, dance, and visual arts and was Glasgow's attempt to rival the Edinburgh Festival
Edinburgh Festival
The Edinburgh Festival is a collective term for many arts and cultural festivals that take place in Edinburgh, Scotland each summer, mostly in August...
in August. However after three years of massive losses and increasingly controversial management it came to a close in 1997 when the local authority removed its half-a-million pound funding.
In 1988, Glasgow hosted its very successful Glasgow Garden Festival
Glasgow Garden Festival
The Glasgow Garden Festival was the third of the United Kingdom's five National Garden Festivals, and the only one to take place in Scotland.It was held in Glasgow between 26 April and 26 September 1988...
on old docks opposite the SECC
Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre
The Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre , located on the north bank of the River Clyde, in Glasgow, is Scotland's largest exhibition centre....
, now home to the Glasgow Science Centre
Glasgow Science Centre
Glasgow Science Centre is a visitor attraction located on the south bank of the River Clyde in Glasgow, Scotland. It is a purpose-built science centre composed of three principal buildings which are the Science Mall, an IMAX cinema and the Glasgow Tower...
at Pacific Quay
Pacific Quay
Pacific Quay is an area south of the River Clyde in Glasgow, Scotland. It is located at the former Plantation Quay and Princes' Dock Basin. The Princes' Dock Basin was the largest on the River Clyde when it was opened in 1900. It ceased to be used in the 1970s as the volume of Shipping using the...
. Over 4.3 million people attended over 5 months, making it by far the most popular of the UK's five Garden Festivals held between 1984 and 1992.
Following the success of the Garden Festival, Glasgow was crowned European City of Culture in 1990 (having been nominated in Sept 1986) and featured an impressive year-long calendar of special events, inspiring the creation of several festivals which still continue today.
Main festivals
Glasgow's main festivals are Celtic ConnectionsCeltic Connections
The Celtic Connections festival started in 1994 in Glasgow, Scotland, and has since been held every January. Featuring over 300 concerts, ceilidhs, talks, free events, late night sessions and workshops, the festival focuses on the roots of traditional Scottish music and also features international...
,(founded 1993), the Jazz Festival
Glasgow International Jazz Festival
Glasgow International Jazz Festival is a jazz festival in Glasgow, Scotland.-Main Festival:One of the biggest jazz festivals in Europe, the Glasgow International Jazz Festival is held annually in June in the Merchant City area of Glasgow...
(founded 1989), the West End Festival
West End Festival
The West End Festival is an annual festival in the West End of Glasgow, Scotland.-History:The West End Festival in Glasgow was started in 1996 by Michael Dale as a small local festival centred on Byres Road....
(founded 1996), Merchant City Festival
Merchant City Festival
The Merchant City Festival is a major cultural festival taking place in Glasgow's Merchant City area.Attracting more than 55,000 people, the four-day Festival presents the cream of Scotland’s theatre, music, visual arts, comedy, dance, film, fashion and food scene.The Festival presents opera...
(founded 2002), Southside Festival [founded 2008] and Glasgay!
Glasgay! Festival
Glasgay! Festival is a gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender arts festival in Glasgow,Scotland.As part of the diversity of Glasgow's cultural scene, Glasgow hosts an annual Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Arts Festival in November, organised by GALA Scotland Ltd.-History:First held in 1993,...
(a queer arts festival which is one of the biggest gay and lesbian multi-arts festivals in Europe)(founded 1997).
Glasgow also hosts the annual World Pipe Band Championships
World Pipe Band Championships
The World Pipe Band Championships is a pipe band competition currently held in Glasgow, Scotland every August. The event has been operating regularly since 1930, when the Scottish Pipe Band Association was formed...
in August on Glasgow Green
Glasgow Green
Glasgow Green is a park situated in the east end of Glasgow on the north bank of the River Clyde. It is the oldest park in the city dating back to the 15th century.In 1450, King James II granted the land to Bishop William Turnbull and the people of Glasgow...
, with over 8,000 musicians.
Calendar of festivals
As part of Glasgow's cultural renaissance, Glasgow is host to a variety of festivals throughout the year:-January
- Celtic ConnectionsCeltic ConnectionsThe Celtic Connections festival started in 1994 in Glasgow, Scotland, and has since been held every January. Featuring over 300 concerts, ceilidhs, talks, free events, late night sessions and workshops, the festival focuses on the roots of traditional Scottish music and also features international...
- Three week-long Celtic folk and world music festival, founded 1993. Now one of the world's most influential music festivals.
February
- Glasgow Film FestivalGlasgow Film FestivalGlasgow Film Festival is an annual film festival based in Glasgow, Scotland, started in 2005.-2010:2010's festival took place between 18-28th February. The opening gala featured Jean-Pierre Jeunet's latest film, Micmacs with the director there to present the film. Other guests included Peter...
- New Territories – Festival of Live Art Scotland - annual international festival of performance art, artist residencies, installations, screenings and talks presented by New Moves. (started 1990)
March
- Glasgow International Comedy FestivalGlasgow International Comedy FestivalGlasgow International Comedy Festival is a comedy festival in Glasgow, Scotland.The comedy festival started in 2002 and is held annually in March....
- Aye Write!Aye Write!Aye Write is a book festival which takes place in Glasgow in late February or early March. As of 2007 it is an annual fixture.-History:The first Aye Write festival was in 2005...
Annual event of authors and writers. (started 2005).
April
- Glasgow International Festival of Contemporary Visual Arts (also known as GI)
- Glasgow Art Fair - Scotland's main art fair
- Triptych - Attention-grabbing music festival across venues in Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow, embracing genres as diverse as Indie, Jazz, Neo-Classical, Reggae and Dance. (Sadly ceased 2008 after Tennents ended sponsorship).
May
- Big Big Country - Americana Music Festival (last held in 2006)
- Maydaze - Free day of music and family entertainment centred on Glasgow GreenGlasgow GreenGlasgow Green is a park situated in the east end of Glasgow on the north bank of the River Clyde. It is the oldest park in the city dating back to the 15th century.In 1450, King James II granted the land to Bishop William Turnbull and the people of Glasgow...
during the first weekend in May. Includes the traditional May Day Rally and Parade which inspired the now defunct Mayfest. - Southside Festival - Festival celebrating the Southside of Glasgow featuring Music, Art, Community acctivities and much more. 2011's festival takes place in Queens Park Recreation Grounds on Saturday 28th May.
June
- West End FestivalWest End FestivalThe West End Festival is an annual festival in the West End of Glasgow, Scotland.-History:The West End Festival in Glasgow was started in 1996 by Michael Dale as a small local festival centred on Byres Road....
- Centred around Byres RoadByres RoadByres Road is a street located in Hillhead, Glasgow and is the central artery of the city's West End.- Location and history :Byres Rd is a mixed commercial, shopping and upmarket residential area consisting largely of traditional sandstone tenements with retail premises on the ground floor and...
, Ashton Lane, the Botanic Gardens, the University of GlasgowUniversity of GlasgowThe University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
and Kelvingrove Park, it is now Glasgow's biggest popular event with over 150,000 attending 500 events in 75 locations and venues. Founded 1996. - Lord Provost's Procession - annual community parade (discontinued in 2006)
- Glasgow International Jazz FestivalGlasgow International Jazz FestivalGlasgow International Jazz Festival is a jazz festival in Glasgow, Scotland.-Main Festival:One of the biggest jazz festivals in Europe, the Glasgow International Jazz Festival is held annually in June in the Merchant City area of Glasgow...
(founded 1989). - Glasgow Mela - held on and off since 1990 Year of Culture in differing locations and months, now in Kelvingrove Park on a Sunday in June during the West End Festival
- North Glasgow International Festival - event centred around asylum seekers, organised by the police (last held in 2005)
- Bard in the Botanics - (annual open-air Shakespeare in the Botanic Gardens)
- Govan Fair - Oldest Festival in Glasgow
- Gorbals Fair - held in the Gorbals every June
July
- Glasgow's River Festival - two day family event centred on the Clyde near the SECC and Science Centre. Started 2004, not held in 2010.
- Glasgow Cabaret Festival - week-long theatre, variety, burlesque, circus and comedy festival at various venues around Glasgow. Started 2009, not held in 2010. Due to be held again in October 2011.
- Merchant City FestivalMerchant City FestivalThe Merchant City Festival is a major cultural festival taking place in Glasgow's Merchant City area.Attracting more than 55,000 people, the four-day Festival presents the cream of Scotland’s theatre, music, visual arts, comedy, dance, film, fashion and food scene.The Festival presents opera...
. 4-day event to celebrate Glasgow's cultural quarter (started 2002).
August
- Piping Live - celebration of piping in all its forms in the week's run up to the World Pipe Band Championships.
- World Pipe Band ChampionshipsWorld Pipe Band ChampionshipsThe World Pipe Band Championships is a pipe band competition currently held in Glasgow, Scotland every August. The event has been operating regularly since 1930, when the Scottish Pipe Band Association was formed...
- major international event held annually on Glasgow Green since 1968. 8,000 pipers and 120 bands. Organised by RSPBA.
September
- Doors Open Day - unique chance for the public to visit some of Glasgow's most interesting buildings over one weekend in September. Organised by Glasgow Building Preservation Trust. (started 1989).
October
- Inspiration - Glasgow's festival for children and young people
- Big Big World - World Music Festival founded by the late Billy Kelly (last held in 2006)