BYOB took on a whole new meaning on Friday 8 May, as local
people were invited to Bring Your Own Baby to a 'baby shower'
celebrating the rebirth of Govan as it undertakes a £120 million 10
year regeneration programme.
A missing baby - the cherub that was once the centrepiece of a
memorial fountain in Govan - was the inspiration behind a 6 month
long arts project that culminates today with the premiere of a
short film, Where's Baby?, that involved 150 local people.
"Today is symbolic of the transformation of Govan and I'm
delighted to be here to witness it," said Nicola Sturgeon, Deputy
First Minister of Scotland and local MSP, at the launch. "As
the film shows, people are at the heart of Govan and will continue
to be. The area was devastated by the demise of ship building
and industry, but since the late 80s, the picture has been
gradually changing. The Garden Festival, the Science Centre,
the growth of the creative industries on Pacific Quay, the 'squinty
bridge', the Riverside Museum and new housing - all these
developments are helping bring Govan back to life. And I'm
delighted to see the regeneration focusing Govan Town Centre not
just because of the fantastic potential this area offers with it's
exceptionally rich heritage, listed buildings and waterfront
location, but because of the desire from local people to see the
town centre returned to its former stature - the hub of community
life and a significant player in the economy and culture of Glasgow
and Scotland."
"These celebrations herald a gear change in the renewal process
that is underway in Govan" said Susan Hanlin, Executive Officer of
Central Govan Action Plan. "The Central Govan Action Plan is
a 10 year, £120m project that aims to make central Govan glorious
again. With major new housing, improved public realm and
environmental improvement projects now underway, this 6 month arts
project has succeeded in getting local people involved in the
regeneration of their public space. Their memories, ideas,
drawings and words appear in the film and remind us of what Govan
has been and may be in the future. And today we've created a
real buzz at Govan Cross by getting together on the street to enjoy
the film and to look forward to the really significant changes
kicking off in Govan. We're at a tipping point."
"When I started this project 6 months ago, the sad Victorian
drinking fountain in the centre of Govan just seemed to say it
all," said artist, Colin Begg. "The cherub and basin of the
fountain were missing. I began to wonder about other things
that were missing in Govan - shipbuilding, industry, housing, jobs,
the heart of the community, a sense of civic pride."
Colin went on to spend 6 months working with local people to
capture their ideas and share an understanding of Govan, its 2,000
year history and its potential.
150 local people aged from 10 to 85 took part: the pupils of
Hill's Trust, Copeland Road and St Constantine's primaries, and
Govan High School. Young people created drawings; older
people shared memories and told stories. The material gathered has
been used to create the film Where's Baby? to celebrate the rich
heritage and future potential of Govan. And, to the delight of the
project organisers, the story of Govan's missing baby has also
inspired Govan Cross Shopping Centre to do its part to bring the
baby back by incorporating the baby motif into its new signage - a
lasting legacy of the art project that will improve the
attractiveness of Govan Cross.
The arts project was funded through the Scottish Government's
Fairer Scotland Fund and RSL Wider Role Fund and was commissioned
through Central Govan Action Plan to help engage local people in
the multi-million pound investment going on in Govan; one of
Scotland's biggest regeneration projects.
· The partners in the
Central Govan Action Plan are Glasgow City Council; Glasgow South
West Regeneration Agency; Govan, Elderpark and Clydeside Housing
Associations; Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS Board; Strathclyde
Partnership for Transport; Govan and Craigton Community Planning
Partnership and local elected members and residents of Govan.
· The plan aims to make
Central Govan attractive, vibrant and prosperous by providing more
quality housing; improving the townscape, creating a distinctive
town centre with the underground as a main transport hub,
attracting investment, creating employment spaces, linking to
training, skills and employment initiatives; making the most of
vacant and derelict land; revitalising listed and underused
buildings; strengthening links within the area, to the waterfront
and with neighbouring communities, and developing heritage and
tourism potential.
· Implementation started in
Summer 2006 and has seen Orkney Street Police Station refurbished
at a cost of £3.5 million, providing business units for start ups
and social enterprise; the Portal arts hub created with demand
currently outstripping supply for space, and a £1.4m repair
contract on site to save the A-listed Fairfield Shipyard Building.
A £57 million housing investment programme is planned over the next
two years to create 450 new homes and boost the population by more
than 1000 people - unsurpassed housing investment in any area of
Glasgow. Construction began on 2 sites in April 2009 -
Rathlin Street and Harhill Street - to create160 houses at a
cost of £21 million. Other imminent projects include: Langlands
Path Upgrade; the restoration of the Pearce Institute, and a major
public realm improvement at Govan Cross, which will see the focus
of the art project - the Aitken Memorial Fountain - fully
restored.
· Inspired by the story of
Govan's missing baby, Govan Cross Shopping Centre has incorporated
the baby motif into its new signage, leaving a permanent project
legacy that helps improve Govan Cross. The arts project launch
coincides with construction work beginning on site for new housing
and other major regeneration developments in the area.