Glasgow Women’s Library to develop a pioneering public art project which aims to put women firmly on the civic map.

Where are all the statues of women in Scotland? Why are there no street-names commemorating great Scottish heroines? Why are the landmarks of women???s achievements ???invisible??? in our civic landscape?

Rumbling in the background of discussions about civic pride, regeneration and the boom in local and social history research, these questions have now begun to be addressed in a pioneering public art project which aims to put women firmly on the civic map.

Inspired by Glasgow Women???s Library???s (GWL) planned move to the prestigious Mitchell Library, funding from the Scottish Arts Council???s Public Art Fund has enabled the appointment of three new team members to GWL, to begin work on the Making Space project. The team comprises internationally renowned artists, Nicky Bird and Shauna McMullan, and Project Co-ordinator and Adviser Fiona Dean. Over the next 6 months, these women will work with GWL staff, volunteers, Library users and learners to research the possibilities of a new public artwork.
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As GWL???s Lifelong Learning and Creative Development Manager Adele Patrick noted, ???there are still only three statues of women in Glasgow and only one of those is a Glaswegian woman, the 19th Century benefactor Isabella Elder.??? Amidst enthusiasm, understanding of the need to work towards a new public artwork through a creative process with artists led to the development of Making Space, with its aims of involving GWL staff and learners in steering the direction of a Public Art Brief, and maximising opportunities to learn from artists??? processes of investigation and collaboration.

The Scottish Arts Council???s support enables an initial, vital creative and developmental phase, which will culminate in the brief for a new artwork, a public exhibition of the artists??? investigations, and a related discussion event on ideas around site-specific public artworks.

As part of the proposed move to the Mitchell Library complex, the Women???s Library has been working with the award winning Gareth Hoskins Architects on plans for the expansion and refurbishment of the former Anderston Library, and expects to relocate to these premises during the next 18 months. Having already raised a quarter of the £1.2 million needed for this development, a major new fundraising initiative ??? Women on the Shelf ??? is underway, which offers the opportunity for anyone to sponsor a book, a shelf or an entire Library section and dedicate it to a woman of their choice.

After this initial phase of Making Space goes public in May 2010, further funding will be sought to make an ambitious public art work, for both the Women???s Library and for Glasgow, a reality.

For more information contact:
Adele Patrick
Lifelong Learning and Creative Development Manager
Glasgow Women???s Library
2nd Floor
81 Parnie Street
Glasgow
G1 5RH.

Tel/Fax: 0141 552 8345
Email: adele.patrick@womenslibrary.org.uk

www.womenslibrary.org.uk