Tramway (arts centre)
Tramwayis a contemporary visual and performing arts venue located in theScottishcity ofGlasgow.Based in a former tram depot in thePollokshieldsarea of the South Side, it consists of two performance spaces and two galleries, as well as offering facilities for community and artistic projects. The Hidden Gardens is situated behind Tramway.[1]The new extension to Tramway is the home of theScottish Ballet,and is claimed to be one of the leading venues of its type inEurope.[2]
History[edit]
The Tramway occupies the former CoplawhillGlasgow Corporation Tramwaysdepot. The originalhorse tramdepot was constructed in 1894, and further workshops were added between 1899 and 1912. It was converted for use as theGlasgow Museum of Transportin 1964, until the museum relocated to theKelvin Hallin 1987. It was first used as a performance venue in 1988, withPeter Brook'sThe Mahabharata.[3]In 1990, it was a prominent venue as part of theEuropean City of Culturecelebrations. It has been protected as acategory B listed buildingsince 1990.[4]
It has hosted many leading international and Scottish performers and artists, includingRobert Lepage,Douglas GordonandLes Ballets C de la B.As well as having close links toGlasgow School of Artand theRoyal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama.
Exhibitions have included the seminal new works byChristine BorlandandDouglas Gordon.In Autumn 1992, Tramway hosted a seminal exhibitionRead My Lips: New York AIDS Polemics(exhibition catalogue editor Nicola White), featuringGran Fury's advertisement/poster with a photo of bi-racial men kissing.[5][6]
Tramway also has a very successful company for young people called Junction 25, run by Tashi Gore and Jess Thorpe of Glas(s) Performance, who have endured international success as well as having a biannual Edinburgh Festival Fringe run. The group celebrated their tenth anniversary in March 2015. Tramway was also the base for Glas(s) Performance's 2013 project, Albert Drive.
In 2003, plans to close the arts centre and convert the building to rehearsal and ancillary space forScottish Balletresulted in massive opposition from the arts community and the wider public.[7]Eventually it was decided to house the Ballet facilities in formerly derelict space to the rear of the building, retaining the arts centre in the existing structure. Scottish Ballet has moved into its new home in 2009. Sarah Munro was appointed the first General Manager of Tramway in 2008 and remains in her capacity as part of her role as Director of Glasgow Life.
In January 2013, it was announced byTatethat Tramway would host the 2015Turner Prize.
References[edit]
- ^"Home".thehiddengardens.org.uk.
- ^Glasgow Museums website
- ^Contemporary British Theatre, ed. Theordore Shank
- ^Historic Environment Scotland."25 Albert Drive and 522 Pollokshaws Road, Tramway (Category B Listed Building) (LB33365)".Retrieved20 March2019.
- ^"Two men kissing; advertisement for an exhibition about New York AIDS Polemics by Tramway. Colour lithograph, 1992".Wellcome Collection.Retrieved28 January2021.
- ^McCormack, Chris (February 2019)."Love AIDS Riots"(PDF).Art Monthly.423:8.
- ^The List: Losing Their TramwayArchived20 November 2008 at theWayback Machine
External links[edit]
Media related toTramway (arts centre)at Wikimedia Commons- Tramway- official site
