Article Source: Glasgow Museums
Last Updated: 21 June 2016 14:40
Riverside Museum celebrated its fifth birthday this week by announcing a packed programme of free summer events. The award-winning £74 million museum has welcomed in excess of five million visitors since it opened on 20th June 2011. It is currently ranked as the second most popular attraction in Glasgow, the fifth most popular in Scotland. The summer events programme will get off to a rousing start on Saturday 25th June. For many it is the first day of the longed for school holidays, when the popular summer beach will open to the upbeat sounds of an Out of Africa experience.
Throughout the previous five years Riverside has continued to attract an increasing number of visitors year on year, welcoming in excess of 1.1 million people in 2015, which represented an increase of 7.8%. The success of Scotland’s museum of transport and travel is related to the ongoing programme of major display changes inside the building and the varied events programme outside, which reflect the museum’s diverse and growing audience base.
Councillor Archie Graham, Chair of Glasgow Life said: “Riverside has been an outstanding success which has vastly increased the number of people visiting Glasgow’s acclaimed transport collection. That success is mirrored by the ever-growing number of awards that this exciting and innovative Glasgow attraction receives. The addition of Riverside to the Glasgow skyline has helped ensure the city’s position as the cultural capital of Scotland.
“I’m confident the diverse events programme announced today will ensure many people add Riverside to their list of must-see attractions this summer. Who can resist the opportunity to kick off their shoes and wriggle their toes in the sand at the ever-popular beach, just one of a host of things happening at Riverside this summer.”
Out Of Africa has been programmed by Adebimpe Ademosu of Riverside Museum said: “Local population data showed a strong increase in the number of people from the African community living close to the museum. We are keen to celebrate African culture at Riverside and share the music, dance, food and fashion popular with that community with a wider audience.
“Local musicians, dancers and those who can create a culinary masterpiece will come together on Saturday to showcase their culture at our Out of Africa event. With upbeat tunes, dazzling colours and tempting aromas it promises to be a delight for the sense. We hope many people from all communities will come and enjoy the day.”
The free event will take place on Saturday 25th June from 12pm – 4pm. Every hour on the hour, local musicians will play African drums and invite visitors to join them in dance, afterwards people can taste and try delicious Nigerian food cooked up by the African Women’s Empowerment Agency. Children can learn basic bead making skills and enjoy traditional printing techniques. Local craftspeople will demonstrate how to make traditional fashion accessories, which will then be on sale.
The hugely popular beach will also open for the season, with giant deckchairs, beach sports and an opportunity to simply kick-back and relax. Later this summer Riverside will participate in Ignition, billed as Glasgow’s festival of motoring and the Festival of Wheels, which will see three weekends dedicated to people-powered methods of transport, including skateboarding, roller-blading and bmx-ing.
Inside visitors can take in Riverside’s latest major display change, Toucans and Lollipops. It tells the story of road safety and how our approach to learning about this deadly serious issue has changed since the 1950s, through one element that hasn’t changed – the Lollipop Person.
In a unique move for Riverside Museum, the display structure has been adapted to create a miniature roadway, complete with a fully functional Toucan Traffic Light Crossing System, which visitors can cross. Adding to the atmosphere is an audio soundscape between a Glasgow Lollipop lady and some local schoolchildren, accompanied by the sounds of busy traffic and car horns to remind visitors that the road is a dangerous place. The display also features road safety education objects, including a poster from the 1930s, a Teddy Tells You How to Be Safe booklet (1952), together with a much-loved How Tufty Crosses the Road leaflet (1974), a Road Sense Early Learning Ladybird book (1977) and the current Go Safe With Ziggy soft toy and artist’s sketchbook.
For further details on Riverside Museum’s summer events programme and events happening across all Glasgow Museums this summer visit www.glasgowmuseums.com
The Thomas Graham Library in Strathblane, which opened last year, is to have its first Art Exhibition on 11th and 12th May.
READ MOREDementia specialist nursing charity, Dementia UK, is running its 14th annual 'Time for a Cuppa Fundraiser' to raise vital funds for the leading cause of death in the UK.
READ MOREDobbies, the UK's leading garden centre, is inviting children aged four to 10 to a free workshop in May to learn more about trees and how to protect them.
READ MOREIt's just days until the opening of the Homebuilding & Renovating Show, which is back SEC, Glasgow on 11-12 May 2024.
READ MOREGlasgow to Loch Lomond was a sea of tartan today as the world's biggest ever Kiltwalk took place, with fundraising already exceeding £2.5m.
READ MOREThe Crown and Fleabag actors join the cast of Alfred Hitchcock's classic spy thriller The 39 Steps at the Theatre Royal Glasgow!
READ MOREInhouse Event Solutions CIC is thrilled to announce the return of the 7th Official Queens Park Arena summer programme 2024!
READ MOREA spectacular multimedia show celebrating Vincent van Gogh's life and stunning artworks is coming to Glasgow this summer!
READ MOREOpened in Spring 2023, the Glasgow city centre venue has become a hub for creative organisations, engagement work, and life-changing education initiatives in the city.
READ MORENational Theatre of Scotland launches a new interactive map for Scotland to demonstrate its love for the Big Yin, inviting people to share their own Billy Connolly memories.
READ MORETouring Scotland from June, the cast is announced for Hen Night Horror, an original musical comedy that promises to put the willies right up ye!
READ MOREAldi Scotland's popular 'Best Home Bar' competition has returned for another year, with a year's supply of beer up for grabs!
READ MORECharity Super.Mkt, the 'department store for second-hand style' launched a year ago by Maria Chenoweth and Wayne Hemingway, will open its 17th location with a prime spot inside Buchanan Galleries!
READ MOREThe first opening road bridge across the River Clyde is a step closer to completion as the first section of the Renfrew Bridge has arrived in Renfrewshire.
READ MOREEllie Leach, reigning champion of Strictly Come Dancing, will make her stage acting debut as Miss Scarlett in the world premiere UK tour of Cluedo 2!
READ MOREThe exclusive 4-year deal will see fan-favourites like Pravha, Madri Excepcional and more on tap at Scotland's home of live entertainment.
READ MOREPaisley Food and Drink Festival returns to the town this weekend for a two-day feastival with plenty for everyone to sample and enjoy.
READ MOREWith a staggering 14 million adults in the UK unable to swim, the team behind The Learn to Swim National Framework has launched a new campaign to encourage adults in Scotland to learn the life skill.
READ MOREGlasgow Cocktail Week has officially kicked off with a first look at the event's new boujee bar Courtyard Bar and event space in the stunning surroundings of Princes Square.
READ MORE34.2 million Brits admit to ditching work and responsibilities for sporting events.
READ MOREBritish fashion label AllSaints has joined the line-up at leading retail and leisure destination Silverburn, representing a fashion coup for the centre.
READ MOREGlasgow's most popular brunch series, VEGA's Brunch Project, will bring all of the 90s nostalgia and Ibiza island vibes to the city centre this spring for sky-high boujee brunches like no other.
READ MOREVisitors are invited to celebrate National Tea Day with a complimentary gift of tea and biscuits from the popular tea store, Whittard of Chelsea at Buchanan Galleries.
READ MORENow in its 30th year, the show is the go-to exhibition for any self-builders or renovators looking for practical tips, expert advice, or the chance to view 1000s of products.
READ MOREButeFest, the much-loved family-friendly music festival on the Isle of Bute, has confirmed the lineup for this year's edition, set to take place between Friday 26th - Sunday 28th July.
READ MOREAye Write has confirmed stand-alone events and a smaller-scale version of Wee Write in 2024, instead of the full festival going ahead.
READ MOREGlasgow Cocktail Week has unveiled a series of cocktail trails mapping out the very best discounted drinks across the city including its first ever 'No and Low' trail.
READ MOREScotland's home of country, Maggie's Rock 'n' Rodeo, is inviting folk to grab the mic at its new Sunday afternoon event – The Hoedown Hoe-K-Oke, launching Sunday 5th May!
READ MORELatest investigations by National Trust for Scotland archaeologists at Culloden Battlefield have recovered a wide range of artefacts.
READ MOREBroadway and West End phenomenon Kinky Boots The Musical, is strutting back to Glasgow in a brand-new production starring Strictly's Johannes Radebe and rising star Dan Partridge!
READ MOREGo Radio | Number 1 for Glasgow & The West - Listen on DAB, Online or on your Smart Speaker, just say "Launch Go Radio"