Laurieston Art Strategy: Open Spaces

WAVEparticle acts as caretaker to three spaces in Laurieston and the Gorbals, and group them under the title ‘Open Spaces’. The three spaces are: the wonderful derelict Greek Thompson Church at Caledonia Road; a series of 23 vacant railway arches in Cleland Lane adjacent to the Citizens Theatre that we call AIA (Artists in Arches); and a 16m diameter circular space we have cleared in a wasteland at Norfolk Court by Gorbals Street which we call the Laurieston Arena. These three sites, within a 10-minute walk of each other, have been reclaimed for use by the local community and for artists and others from all over Scotland and beyond. 

Over the last three years, WAVEparticle has invited proposals for the creative use of these three spaces and has already successfully piloted a wide range of exhibitions, installations, activities and events to date. The developing programme has included pop-up events, art exhibitions, sound installations, community workshops and activities, outdoor film screenings and theatre performances – which have reached a local, city-wide and international audience – free and available to all.

The activation of these spaces is part of Art & Living: Laurieston – the art strategy developed by WAVEparticle for Laurieston in partnership with New Gorbals Housing Association, Urban Union and the local community. The project has been made possible with additional invaluable support from a number of key partners including Network Rail, Stalled Spaces, and Glasgow City Council Development and Regeneration Services.


The SURF award for Creative Placemaking and more recently the award from Arts & Business Scotland have both particularly noted the level of partnership involved in the whole process around the development and delivery of Laurieston’s Art Strategy.