Glasgow is a creative hub, I know a lot of designers, developers, artists, and all-around creative people in the city, and South Block is practically bursting at the seams with them. There are some excellent museums including Kelvingrove, where I went to see the excellent Linda McCartney photo exhibition, and for some there is also GoMA. My favourite, however, is The Lighthouse. Or should I say, it was because it shut down for the pandemic and has never really reopened.
There seems to be little information on why The Lighthouse shut, perhaps it was because of the struggles to pull people in before the pandemic caused the council to think twice about opening its doors again, maybe they are doing some renovations on it before we see the doors open again. But the fact it remains closed to the general public is a scary sign for art in the city.
Here’s why.
Art comes in a variety of different forms, whether you are making latte art, cutting styles into hair, creating words and letters on buildings, hell even building the buildings. It’s the diverse nature of creativity that makes it so alluring for so many. There are, in my opinion, some questionable uses of the words “creative” but art is an expression.
The Lighthouse to me was a unique section of Glasgow’s art scene. I occasionally went to see the older styles of painting in Kelvingrove and every so often ventured into GoMA for some modern interpretations. But at The Lighthouse I felt at home, relaxed, and with things I felt I knew.
It housed some unique stories including a few months talking about Glasgow’s infamous Red Road flats through to exhibitions on printing and architecture, not only that it also houses one of the best exhibitions I’ve seen of Mackintosh work – not to mention the view of Glasgow. It’s something you don’t find in many other places in Glasgow.
Its closure, and the lack of information from Glasgow Council on why (I can only find a blog post that’s over a year old), makes me worry about how art and the creative world are being treated by the council. The Lighthouse closing down shows that spaces like this are not a top priority for councils. This, I assume, is the case not just for this venue but many venues across the country.
I don’t like to speculate on things like this, but I worry that this closure means that the creative arts have slipped down the priority list for the council.
These places are important for many reasons
Alongside the worry that the closures show a drop in priority, I have other concerns too. Arts venues, whether in the city or not, have an important place within communities or sub-communities. I absolutely loved The Lighthouse and have taken a couple of friends to some exhibitions, even wandering around on my own to see an Alan Kitching exhibition.
Places like these offer some salvation from the hustle and bustle for some, creating a sanctuary to really take your mind off things.
I also use these places as inspiration, I’ve spoken before about Hill House and its importance as a place of inspiration for me and I imagine many others. It’s important we keep these open as much as it is to keep gyms, pools, or sports fields funded.
I am hopeful that I will be able to update this blog post in the coming months with the good news that The Lighthouse is once again open, but I fully doubt that. Glasgow’s council has for years been focusing on looking at reducing overheads with another set of cuts agreed this year. I fear that the arts are one of the first of the chopping blocks because most deem them unimportant. However, it is anything but.