The film centres around the work of Cathy McCormack, a housing and anti-poverty activist from Easthall in Easterhouse. In the 1980s, a collaboration between residents, architects and technical surveyors developed an innovative method to cut the dampness and high fuel costs that were plaguing the residents. After initially being turned down by Glasgow City Council, the Easthall Resident Association were successfully funded by the EU for a full retrofit and solar panel installation on thirty-six flats in the area. By the mid 90s, the retrofit on the flats were complete and the weekly fuel costs dropped from £40 to £4.
Alongside Cathy’s story weaves other examples of communities that have fought for their spaces in the city. Take Root, a women’s self build group in nineties Glasgow, spent years working towards the dream of building their own homes. They fundraised, learnt to build and negotiated land; they went to training camps and worked directly with architects. The project got close, but was dropped by the housing association due to concerns that a new equality bill would deem a housing complex built by woman to be a contravention to men’s rights. The archives are stored within the Glasgow Women’s Library and as part of the new film, the architectural plans of each woman’s house has been reconstructed into a digital landscape.
Shifting from the past to the present, the film is interspersed by Slaghammers, a woman and non-binary welding group, who are finally moving into a new space. They were set up in 2016 to provide DIY metalwork skills to those who do not feel welcome in traditional workshops spaces. The new site, which will house a metal and wood workshop, will be in a former shipyard in the west of the city. The film traces the architectural mapping of this newly-claimed space alongside discussions around the group's organisational structure.
Looking to the future, under the watchful gaze of covid, the final element of the film will touch on the pressure facing community groups and their ongoing struggle to access space.
Where possible we will update our listings to notify of cancelled, postponed and rescheduled events, however we STRONGLY ADVISE that you check with the venue/organiser in the first instance for updates.
All information (whether in text or photographs) is supplied in good faith but should not be relied upon as being a statement of representation or fact.GOT AN EVENT TO SHARE? It's free to post your events on What's On Glasgow, click here to find out more!
Want to be the first to hear about what's happening in Glasgow? Just hit 'Like' on our Facebook page, join the What's On Scotland Facebook Group and 'Follow' on our Twitter account and you're all set!Catch Glasgow based singer and songwriter Kirsteen Harvey live at CCA Glasgow on Friday 5th April!
READ MORESinger songwriter John Smith has played to audiences all over the world during his eighteen years as a full-time independent touring musician, he'll headline CCA Glasgow on Friday 12th April!
READ MOREUsing the library's curated, travelling collection as our backdrop we'll be mucking in and making zines together!
READ MOREDiscuss the use of self-publishing to disseminate radical information, facilitate political education, spread stories of resistance, and as a tool for building movements for liberation.
READ MOREJoin us to launch an array of amazing new zines emerging from the Glasgow Zine Fest community over the past year.
READ MOREExpect irresistable rhythms with distinctive post punk and high life influences at this intimate gig with R.AGGS as part of Glasgow Zine Fest 2024!
READ MOREGlasgow Zine Fest's main event features over 40 makers from the UK and worldwide showcasing their work. Come for the zines, stay for the zines!
READ MOREIn this creative family workshop Glasgow Zine Fest will delve into histories of radical pedagogy and children and young people’s activism!
READ MOREA book-binding induction at Publication Studio Glasgow, CCA. Come along to learn how to print, trim, crease and bind your own book.
READ MOREAn audio-visual session focused on Palestinian liberation, featuring archival footage and sound from the Majazz Archive.
READ MORECelebrate self-expression and explore the art of self-publishing in a welcoming and inclusive space.
READ MOREIn this interactive talk, we will consider this, asking how we can expand our notions of what art and design can be.
READ MOREA writing workshop exploring divination, mediumship and channelled writing through tarot, with reference to The Oracle of Delphi, John Dee & Edward Kelly, and spiritualist psychophony.
READ MOREDrop in to watch the playful and experimental animations our DIY Animation Club have been making this year!
READ MOREA potluck and zine-making workshop for people who identify as mixed-race, multi-racial or bi-racial.
READ MOREAn in-conversation and reading with K Patrick, discussing their new poetry collection THREE BIRTHS (Granta Poetry).
READ MORERenowned author and musician Willy Vlautin celebrates the launch of his new book 'The Horse' with a reading, Q&A and solo performance of songs at CCA Glasgow on Wednesday 15th May!
READ MOREHorse launches the new album The Road Less Travelled with two intimate, full band concerts at CCA Glasgow on Saturday 25th May!
READ MORERenowned Westcountry songwriter Steve Knightley, former Show of Hands frontman, will bring his Winter Yards tour to CCA Glasgow on Thursday 24th October!
READ MOREThe Glasgow Gallery of Photography are hosting a month long photography exhibition, showcasing the theme Colour in photography at their exhibition space on High Street during April.
READ MOREThe Glasgow Gallery of Photography are hosting a month long photography exhibition, showcasing Portraiture in photography at their exhibition space on High Street during April.
READ MOREJoin Helensburgh Art Hub for the opening event of local artist Morven Swann's 'From the Glens exhibition at the Front Room Gallery.
READ MOREThe Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust opens its Bridgeton Bus Garage to the public on selected Sundays throughout the year!
READ MOREJoin 333 Events for their Fashion Makes Glasgow fashion show, highlighting and celebrating local female owned brands and fashion designers, at Box Hub Warehouse.
READ MORECompass Gallery is proud to present a new exhibition of powerful and compelling paintings by the artist Anna H. Geerdes.
READ MOREThe Glasgow Gallery of Photography presents a six week long exhibition called The White Edition, themed on the colour white.
READ MOREThe Glasgow Gallery of Photography presents a six week long exhibition called The Black Edition, themed on the colour black.
READ MOREThe UK's biggest baby and toddler show, the ultimate event for new and expectant parents, is returning to the SEC Glasgow between the 19th and 21st April!
READ MOREGo Radio | Number 1 for Glasgow & The West - Listen on DAB, Online or on your Smart Speaker, just say "Launch Go Radio"