Baths Centenary Celebrations End with Conference, Exhibitions and Tours

A conference this week (Wednesday 23 August) starts the last lap of our centenary celebrations.  The conference will kick off 3 weeks of events culminating in tours of the building on Doors Open Day (Saturday 16 September).

Public Health and the Built Environment is a one-off event looking at the importance of municipal swimming baths & wash houses: their impact on public health and amateur swimming in Scotland; their architectural importance and what all this means today as Govanhill Baths is redeveloped into a community led Health and Wellbeing Centre.   The conference is FREE but ticketed,  and is supported with a Heritage Grant from Glasgow City Heritage Trust Full programme and ticket details are here https://www.eventbrite.com/e/public-health-the-built-environment-tickets-36547181604?aff=eac2

The exhibition Glasgow and Govanhill 1917 is a photographic exhibition and film, with relevant books to browse in the foyer at the Baths.  Alongside that is the return of From Before the Bikini to the Burkini – an exhibition of swimming costumes from each decade since the Opening of Govanhill Baths, the costumes are designed and made by Gabbi Cullen and arranged by Amelia Rowe.  Both exhibitions will run until Doors Open Day, Saturday 16 September.

On Doors Open Day there will be arranged tour of the Baths building, probably the last chance to see it in its current state before major refurbishment next year.  The tours are every half hour from 12.30 till 4pm and are limited to 20 people at a time, so booking is required.  To book a FREE space on the tour, email Jim on info@govanhillbaths.com

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Colourful and Noisy – Let’s Build a “Scottish Nottinghill”

The first Govanhill International Carnival will take to the streets on Saturday 26 August, leaving Govanhill Park at 1pm and parading to Queens Park Arena for a day of music and fun from 2pm onwards.  Over 30 groups, from trade unions and community groups, to schools and football teams, will celebrate Govanhill, Scotland’s most culturally and ethnically diverse community.

The parade will be led by renowned piper and political activist Craig “Haggis” MacFarlane and we will be joined by brass band Brass Aye!, St Francis Pipe Band from Gorbals, The Rags to Riches Trash Orchestra, and local Roma stars E Karika Djal.  The music will continue at the park where all of these bands will perform along with Big Noise Orchestra and Unite! Fight! Sing! Choir and Romane Cierhenia traditional Gypsy dancers from Poland.

If you or your group want to join in, email Anna carnival@govanhillbaths.com for details.  If you are individual who wants to take part join us at 1pm and march with us, all we ask is that you dress up, make a lot of noise, and smile!

First Minister of Scotland and local MSP Nicola Sturgeon, who will open the Carnival, said:

“I am delighted to be invited to launch the first ever Govanhill International Carnival. Govanhill is such a uniquely diverse part of Glasgow and the carnival will be a great opportunity to celebrate this diversity. I have no doubt that the hard work put in by local groups will make the event a success and I look forward to the Carnival becoming an annual fixture in the Govanhill calendar.”

Govanhill Baths Community Trust want to build this into an annual international event to rival any Carnival and Parade anywhere, a “Scottish Nottinghill”.   Join us.

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Govanhill Baths Centenary Celebrations Close With Major Conference

As part of our centenary celebrations this conference will look at the importance of municipal swimming baths & wash houses: their impact on public health and amateur swimming in Scotland; their architectural importance and what all this means today as Govanhill Baths is redeveloped into a community led Health and Wellbeing Centre.

The conference is supported with a Heritage Grant from Glasgow City Heritage Trust.

Public Health and the Built Environment Conference

Programme

10.00 Registration and refreshments

10.20 Introduction & Welcome
Niall Murphy (Govanhill Baths Community Trust & Glasgow City Heritage Trust)

10.35 Govanhill, Glasgow in the 1910’s – 1920’s
Fiona Hayes and Isobel McDonald (Glasgow Museums)

11.05 Glasgow’s Public health in the time of War
Simon Walker (Centre for the Social History of Health and Healthcare, University of Strathclyde)

11.35 Q&A

11.45 Refreshment break

12.00 Scottish baths 1868-1914 : and their conservation
Douglas Campbell (Aberdeen City Heritage Trust)

12.30 Sharing Memories of Baths and Wash Houses
Carl Evans (Baths and Wash Houses Historical Archive)

13.00 Q&A

13.10 Networking lunch

14.00 Victoria Baths & Historic Pools of Britain
Gill Wright (Victoria Baths, Manchester and Historic Pools of Britain)

14.30 Learning to Swim in Govanhill & Amateur Swimming in Scotland
Paul Donald (Scottish Swimming and Kingston Amateur Swimming Club)

15.00 Q&A and closing remarks
Paula Larkin (Govanhill Baths Archive)

15.30 Close

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Govanhill Against Racism Festival

Govanhill Baths Community Trust are delighted to be supporting and working with The Alistair Hulett Memorial Trust on a music festival to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Rock Against Racism movement (RaR).

The 2-day festival will take place in Queens Park Arena on 27/28 August, the day after our own Govanhill International Carnival and Parade.

On Sunday 27 August, 3 of the bands who took part in the original RaR concerts will come to the Southside for Roots Rock Reggae Against Racism.  The concert, Curated by Glasgow promoters Jah Live, features Aswad, Misty in Roots and Black Roots.  Tickets for this show are £25 from skiddle.com

On Monday 28 August, Manchester legands Black Grape will be joined by local heroes Colonel Mustard & the Dijon 5 and beatboxer Bigg Taj.  Tickets for Monday are £35 from skiddle.com  Weekend tickets are £50 from skiddle.com

Speakers at the event include Jeremy Corbyn and Aamer Anwar

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