On Friday 15 May 2020, as the country navigated the restrictions of lockdown, Issue 1 of a newly created Platform newsletter was mailed out to 42 homes in the north east of Glasgow.
The Bridge had been closed for two months and Platform were looking for ways to stay in touch with the local community – especially those who were not keen or geared up towards online interaction.
The newsletter began with writing letters, sharing responses to questions, drawings, observations, hopes and jokes and with each issue, a stamped address envelope would be included for people to have the option to respond. As lockdown continued and restrictions remained, the newsletter became a regular way to keep in touch, offering a space to stay connected and creative.
The project ran for over 18 months and produced twenty-five issues in total. By the fifteenth issue the mailing list had grown to 252 names and across the project 4,654 newsletters – in an A5 magazine style format - were printed and posted to addresses across north east Glasgow and beyond. People from all ages and areas took part, from young children and families, to couples and elder generations.
A total of 400 submissions were received over the course of the project, in various forms from people of all ages, locations and background. For those involved, each issue became something to look forward to and a space for people to share and inspire, contemplate and discuss. The final issue of the newsletter was sent out in December 2021.
Scaled up versions of the contributions are now on display on Platform’s exhibition wall, showing an artwork from each issue and ultimately sharing the broad range of styles, themes and creativity that thrived throughout the project. Also featuring as part of the exhibition are selected original artworks alongside the pages of writing that was submitted in the form of letters, stories, poems and jokes.
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