CLIMATE protesters from have glued themselves to the frame of a painting in Kelvingrove Art Gallery and spray-painted their logo on the walls and floor of the building.
Two demonstrators from the group Just Stop Oil have attached themselves to Horatio McCulloch’s My Heart Is In The Highlands.
The two women in their 20s say they do not intend to damage the painting itself but will not move. One is sitting on a camping chair while the other is standing on the other side of the artwork.
The area around the protesters has been cordoned off by gallery staff.
Emma Brown, 30, a graduate from Glasgow School of Art said she was taking action because "art is about telling the truth".
“But right now, when we need them most – art institutions are failing us," she told journalists.
"They seem to think it’s enough to put on an exhibition about climate change rather than challenge the Government’s genocidal plans to allow new oil and gas. This is unacceptable, it’s not enough to be informed as citizens, we need to be active."
She went on: “If you are more angry about the action than about mothers dying of heat stroke in India leaving orphaned babies crying for breastmilk, or about the millions of families in the UK struggling to buy food because of fossil fuel profiteering by the rich then you need to get your priorities straight.
"What is more priceless? This piece of art or your children’s life? There can be no new fossil fuel projects, it’s insanity and greed.”
The UK Government has dozens of fossil fuel projects coming up – with plans including oil fields, coal mines and gas deposits.
This is despite the IPCC’s latest report warning that existing and scheduled fossil fuel projects are already more than the Earth can deal with.
Scientists on that panel said in April that the world has just 30 months to start seeing emissions fall if we want to avoid the very worst effects of the climate crisis.
A spokeswoman for Glasgow Life, the organisation which runs the museum, said: “On Police Scotland advice, Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum has closed early today, due to climate protesters inside the museum.
“Glasgow Life museums’ security and conservation teams are currently working with the police to ascertain the extent of any damage. We will update on reopening as soon as possible.”
More to follow
