Arts and culture

The arts play a key role in the regeneration of Clyde Waterfront with a new artists' quarter, a digital media quarter and new venues for the performing arts helping to create a positive spirit in the area.

Two sites in the Merchant City form the hub of an artist's quarter: Trongate 103 and the Briggait have been redeveloped to create new studio space for working artists.

As a major part of the Creative Clyde project, Pacific Quay will provide a physical focus for new media, technology and creatively minded businesses in Glasgow and West Central Scotland. Creative Clyde is centred on Glasgow's waterfront in an area which contains some of the city's most important assets at the SECC, Pacific Quay and Riverside Museum.

Another unusual building is SWG3 which is an old warehouse used as artists and photographers studios.

In addition to new studio space, artworks have been incorporated into many of the projects. Find out about Public Art in the Clyde Waterfront area.

The performing arts now have a new venue for large scale performances when the 12,000 seat arena at the SECC. Other performance spaces near the waterfront include the Citizens Theatre, Tron Theatre, The Arches, and on the water itself the Ferry at the Broomielaw.

Lesson/project ideas

Title Short description Related curricular areas Age group
Artwork - 150 years of River Clyde Through investigating artistic images of the Clyde over the last 150 years, learners will create an exhibition of their own artwork images of the Clyde today. Expressive Arts, Languages, Technologies Upper Primary
Artwork on 'Recognising unity, celebrating diversity' Pupils produce two pieces of artwork suitable for a Scottish arts festival and set up exhibition in school for peers and parents. Expressive Arts, Languages, Religious and Moral Education Lower Secondary, Upper Secondary
Brochure of Clydeside visitor attractions Analyse availability of tourism and leisure facilities in order to produce a brochure for use by Glasgow's tourists/residents. Expressive Arts, Languages, Technologies Upper Primary
Ceramic wall panel Design and make a decorative wall panel based on the theme of natural environment of the Clyde for display in a new waterfront restaurant. Expressive Arts, Science, Technologies Lower Secondary
Clyde animations Learners will produce short animations based on the Clyde using techniques learned in Art class and present their finished products to an audience. Expressive Arts, Languages, Mathematics Upper Primary, Lower Secondary
Clyde bridges - cards & postcards Create 'impressionist' images of the Clyde bridges and waterfront to be used in greetings cards or postcards. Expressive Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Technologies Upper Primary
Clyde street theatre project Devise a street theatre piece - celebrating Clyde waterfront - and perform at a chosen location e.g. primary school or senior citizen centre, or event e.g. 'West End Festival' of 'Glasgow River Festival'. Expressive Arts, Health and Wellbeing, Languages, Social Studies Upper Primary, Lower Secondary
Clyde-inspired jewellery design and manufacture Develop knowledge and understanding of 3-dimensional designs by making jewellery based on structures on the Clyde waterfront. Expressive Arts, Technologies Upper Secondary
Compose a song Fulfil curriculum requirements by composing a rock/popular song about the Clydeside to recite and teach to P7 for school liaison, and perform at school concert. Languages, Social Studies, Technologies
Concert on the River Clyde Learners who are members of a school band or choir will learn how to project manage and perform a concert on board a Clyde vessel. This will be combined with an educational excursion Expressive Arts, Social Studies, Technologies Upper Secondary
Craft design on a tourism theme Applying learning about plastics to design and make a plastic artefact based on a tourism theme. Expressive Arts, Languages, Mathematics, Science, Technologies Upper Secondary
Creating a poetry book The class will work both individually and as part of a group in order to produce a book of poetry about life in and around Glasgow. Expressive Arts, Languages, Technologies Upper Primary, Lower Secondary
Design a paper lantern By applying k/u of 3D design processes and taking inspiration from Clyde architecture, learners will design and produce a unique paper lantern that will be judged for use at Glasgow's City of Light festival. Expressive Arts, Health and Wellbeing, Languages, Religious and Moral Education, Social Studies, Technologies Lower Secondary
Graphic design inspired by the architecture of Glasgow Learners will work to a design brief, developing knowledge and understanding of the graphic design process, by designing an invitation for The Lighthouse, based on architecture on the Clyde waterfront. Expressive Arts, Technologies Lower Secondary
Handel's Water Music Research and perform Handel's Water Music and present a class arrangement on evaluation of findings to an audience of peers and parents Expressive Arts, Languages, Social Studies, Technologies Lower Secondary
Key ring design Create a unique key-ring graphic design inspired by the Clyde waterfront using k/u of 2D design processes to market to the tourism sector for use a local arts and cultural festival/tourism outlets e.g. Celtic Connections festival. Expressive Arts, Languages, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Technologies Lower Secondary
Magazine on inspirational figures The learners collate articles to present their research in a magazine entitled: 'People who shaped the world' which is circulated to a focus audience. Languages, Religious and Moral Education Lower Secondary
Making a music CD and putting on a performance To apply both historical and musical knowledge in order to compose and record a piece of music which will be performed in the local community and a CD sold to fund raise. Expressive Arts, Languages, Social Studies, Technologies Upper Primary
Model making in metal Designing a new lectern for the school theatre and present to experts - welders, engineers, craftspeople for feedback and possible funding to produce winning design. Languages, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Technologies Lower Secondary
Origami boat design By using k/u of 3D design processes and taking inspiration from the Clyde waterfront, learners will produce a unique origami boat and present to River Festival organisers, Clyde waterfront developer, local designer for potential development for festival purposes. Expressive Arts, Health and Wellbeing, Languages, Science, Social Studies, Technologies All Secondary
Outdoor lighting design This project will develop students' k/u of 3D design processes by using Clyde architecture/bridges as a starting point to create a unique outdoor lighting design to present to a panel of experts such as a festival organiser, Clyde developer, local designer, local authority personnel, local community and an exhibition at parents' evening Expressive Arts, Languages, Science, Social Studies, Technologies Upper Primary
Painting inspired by the Clyde waterfront By using k/u of 2D painting processes and taking inspiration from the Clyde waterfront developments, learners will produce a painting which will form part of an exhibition on Clyde waterfront regeneration. Expressive Arts, Languages, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies Expressive Arts, Languages, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies
Performance on changing life and times on the Clyde Write a script and performance for peers to tell the story of people involved in working or living on the Clyde through the generations. Expressive Arts, Health and Wellbeing, Languages Upper Primary
Photographs of River Clyde 1858 - 2008 Investigate photographic images of the Clyde over the last 150 years. Create an exhibition of children's own images of the Clyde today. Expressive Arts, Languages, Technologies Upper Primary, Lower Secondary
Presentation and exhibition on Ken Currie Taking Ken Currie's work at People's Palace (content for Standard Grade critical activity) create an exhibition for peers and parents about the work of the artist. Expressive Arts, Social Studies, Technologies Upper Secondary
Public mural inspired by the Clyde skyline Learners will produce a mural design, considering green issues by using recycled materials, which will be exhibited to local artists and local authority personnel for potential use in the community. Expressive Arts, Health and Wellbeing, Languages, Science, Social Studies Lower Secondary
Public sculpture By using k/u of sculptural processes and taking inspiration from Clyde architecture, learners will produce work which will be judged by a local sculptor/local authority personnel. Languages, Social Studies, Technologies Lower Secondary
Shipbuilding: a drama performance Learners will produce a performance based on the rise and fall of shipbuilding in the Clyde. The performance will use music, drama and dance to convey powerful images of shipbuilding on the Clyde Expressive Arts, Languages, Social Studies Upper Primary
Sounds of the Clyde Apply k/u of the elements of music to create a musical composition for Higher/Advanced Higher music and present to their peers and record onto a CD Expressive Arts, Languages, Science Upper Secondary
Sporting hero sculptures Create sculpted images of the sports men and women to commemorate the Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2014. Expressive Arts, Health and Wellbeing, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Technologies Upper Primary
Stained glass window design Create a unique stained glass window design to participate in a presentation by using 2D design processes and taking inspiration from Clydeside architecture. Expressive Arts, Languages, Religious and Moral Education, Social Studies, Technologies Lower Secondary
Symbols Research symbolism used by the six main world religions and produce a presentation/display for school to demonstrate an understanding of different beliefs and cultures found in society. Expressive Arts, Languages, Religious and Moral Education Upper Primary, Lower Secondary
Woodcraft screens Learners will work in a team to research, design and construct 4 pieces of craft work using wood as the main material which will form an exhibition for parents' evening. Expressive Arts, Languages, Mathematics, Technologies Lower Secondary