SAUCHIEHALL STREET WEEKEND OF PLAY
The Sauchiehall Street Weekend of Play was a weekend of multisensory fun and play activities aimed at kids and families over three locations – Sauchiehall Street, Garnethill Multicultural Centre and Garnethill Park. The project was commissioned by Glasgow Life as part of the Animating Sauchiehall Street project, supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The commission brief was to develop a programme of fun games and multisensory play activities exploring the cultural and natural heritage of the street and Garnethill Park. Kids were encouraged to test their balance, carve stones, listen to the secret sounds of trees, score a film, ‘play the Pyramid’, try some Tutti Frutti ice cream, ‘tune in’ to Tenement Radio and make their own Mackintosh-inspired tiles.
- Completion Date: 2026
- Project Cost: £15000
The Project
Children were invited to “take over the street,” exploring the area’s cultural and natural heritage through a diverse programme of creative, sensory, and interactive play experiences. More than 300 children and adults took part over the weekend.
As well as demonstrating how city streets can be welcoming spaces for children and families, the event challenged perceptions of Sauchiehall Street as an unsuitable place for play. Participants were also encouraged to share their ideas and aspirations for the future of the street, helping input into a more inclusive and family-friendly vision for the area.
Saturday
Saturday’s events on Sauchiehall Street featured a packed programme of free, family-friendly activities. PEEK Projects brought energetic fun with The Street is Lava, while the Hunterian Museum led an interactive Bug Safari. Children (and adults) also had the opportunity to try their hand at stone carving with sculptor Barry Groves.
At Garnethill Multicultural Centre, sound artist Ros Fraser hosted a workshop exploring the art of movie sound effects. Meanwhile, in Garnethill Park, visitors discovered the hidden sounds of the park through a series of playful installations. Sound artist Lizzie Robertson transformed the park’s iconic “pyramid” into a giant musical instrument, while her Tenement Radio activity encouraged children to tune into the park’s historic soundscape.
The day’s activities were rounded off with free Tutti Frutti cones from Peacock’s Ice Cream – an extra treat for families enjoying the festival.
Sunday
At the Project Space on Sauchiehall Street, Make It Glasgow’s Tea and Tile Party invited families to explore the story of the iconic Willow Pattern, make their very own tiles, and see some real-life shipwrecked pottery lost for over 150 years.
In Garnethill Park, artists Connie Woods and Laurie Knott welcomed people into a recording booth to share their stories and memories of the area, creating a living archive of local voices. Nearby, Join the Dots hosted pizza-making workshops, with delicious creations baked in the community bread oven.
The Deep Listening sessions continued in the park and the sounds of the Pyramid Stage. Participants listened to the sounds of sap rising through the trees and even discovered how to estimate a tree’s age just by giving it a hug.
Project Team
- Lead: Heritage Engagement Manager GBPT, in collaboration with the Sauchiehall Street Team
- Delivery Partners: PEEK Projects, the Hunterian Museum, Join the Dots collective, Make It Glasgow, the Mackintosh Tearooms, Garnethill Multicultural Centre, the National Library of Scotland, Ros Fraser, Dr Lizzie Robertson, Barry Grove, Laurie Knott and Connie Grundy-Wood.
Funders
Special Thanks
- Glasgow Life, Glasgow Doors Open Days Festival and University of Glasgow volunteers for their time, enthusiasm and patience.
- Artist and designer Erin Bradley-Scott for designing the beautiful festival programme.
- Sarti’s for the kind donation of the pizza dough, and Material Source for providing creative materials.