Glasgow residents are being asked for their views on the future of the People's Palace and Winter Gardens.
Glasgow Life and Glasgow City Council, who operate the venues, will be hosting a series of local events to hear the opinions of people in the city.
The feedback will help inform future bids to secure funding from available national schemes to upgrade the museum and glasshouse.
An estimated £25 million is needed to fully refurbish the People's Palace and Winter Gardens and bring them up to modern-day standards. This money will be in addition to the £2.9m the council has allocated to support the restoration in its 2022/23 budget.
Bailie Annette Christie, Chair of Glasgow Life, said: "The People's Palace and Winter Gardens is one of Glasgow’s most treasured spaces. It holds a special place in the hearts of Glaswegians and is much loved by visitors to the city. It has a proud reputation as the home of Glasgow’s social history; a museum that tells the city’s story, and where people can see something of their family’s life in the many wonderful displays on show.
“As a historic building, substantial investment is required to secure the sustainable future of the People’s Palace and Winter Gardens. Together with Glasgow City Council, Glasgow Life is committed to preserving this invaluable heritage asset for future generations. We recognise the significant public affection that exists for both spaces and our approach will ensure local people can have a say in shaping their future.
“The hugely successful refurbishment of The Burrell Collection shows the scale of our ambition to protect Glasgow’s outstanding cultural heritage. In partnership with others, our focus is now firmly on ensuring People’s Palace continues to provide a fit-for-purpose home for these cherished, important collections.”
Set in historic Glasgow Green, the People’s Palace and Winter Gardens opened in 1898 as a centre for culture and entertainment that would build community spirit and promote the health and wellbeing of Glasgow’s citizens.
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It was Glasgow’s first purpose-built museum and continues to be home to a wealth of historic artifacts, objects, photographs, prints and film, which provide a record of how Glaswegians lived, worked, and played in years gone by.
The public can share their thoughts by completing an online survey, as well as attending ‘Out in the Open’, an outdoor event to be held at Glasgow Green on Saturday, June 11. Two public workshops will also be held next month
The online survey has now opened and is available to view here.
New Practice is also inviting people who live in the Calton ward, where People’s Palace and Winter Gardens is located, and surrounding areas to apply to attend two public workshops taking place on 28 and 29 June.
People’s Palace is open every day. The top floor is currently closed while repairs have been undertaken to a section of damaged plasterwork and will re-open once displays have been re-instated. It will reopen to the public on Monday June 6.
