Tramway (arts centre)
Encyclopedia
Tramway is a contemporary visual and performing arts venue located in the Scottish
city of Glasgow
. Based in a former tram depot in the Pollokshields
area of the South Side, it consists of two performance spaces and two galleries, as well as The Hidden Garden and offering facilities for community and artistic projects. The new extension to Tramway will be the home of the Scottish Ballet
, and is claimed to be one of the leading venues of its type in Europe
.
depot. The original horse tram depot was constructed in 1894, and further workshops were added between 1899 and 1912. It was converted for use as the Glasgow Museum of Transport
in 1964, until the museum relocated to Kelvin Hall
in 1987. It was first used as a performance venue in 1988, with Peter Brook
's The Mahabharata. In 1990, it was a prominent venue as part of the European City of Culture celebrations. It has been protected as a category B listed building since 1990.
It has hosted many leading international and Scottish performers and artists, including Robert Lepage
, Douglas Gordon
and Les Ballets C de la B. As well as having close links to Glasgow School of Art
and the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama
. Exhibitions have included the seminal new works by Christine Borland
and Douglas Gordon
. Tramway also has a very successful company for young people called Junction 25, which is run by Glas(s) Performance.
In 2003, plans to close the arts centre and convert the building to rehearsal and ancillary space for Scottish Ballet
resulted in massive opposition from the arts community and the wider public. Eventually it was decided to house the Ballet facilities in formerly derelict space to the rear of the building, retaining the arts centre in the existing structure. Scottish Ballet has moved into its new home in 2009. Sarah Munro was appointed the first General Manager of Tramway in 2008 and remains in post.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
city of Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
. Based in a former tram depot in the Pollokshields
Pollokshields
Pollokshields is a district in the Southside of Glasgow, Scotland. It is a conservation area which was developed in Victorian times according to a plan promoted by the original landowners, the Stirling-Maxwells of Pollok, whose association with the area goes as far back as...
area of the South Side, it consists of two performance spaces and two galleries, as well as The Hidden Garden and offering facilities for community and artistic projects. The new extension to Tramway will be the home of the Scottish Ballet
Scottish Ballet
Scottish Ballet is the national ballet company of Scotland and one of the four leading ballet companies of the United Kingdom, alongside the Royal Ballet, English National Ballet and Birmingham Royal Ballet...
, and is claimed to be one of the leading venues of its type in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
.
History
The Tramway occupies the former Coplawhill Glasgow Corporation TramwaysGlasgow Corporation Tramways
Glasgow Corporation Tramways were formerly one of the largest urban tramway systems in Europe. Over 1000 municipally-owned trams served the city of Glasgow, Scotland with over 100 route miles by 1922...
depot. The original horse tram depot was constructed in 1894, and further workshops were added between 1899 and 1912. It was converted for use as the Glasgow Museum of Transport
Glasgow Museum of Transport
The Glasgow Museum of Transport in Glasgow, Scotland was established in 1964 and initially located at a former tram depot in Pollokshields. From 1987 the museum was relocated to the city's Kelvin Hall...
in 1964, until the museum relocated to Kelvin Hall
Kelvin Hall
The Kelvin Hall in Glasgow, Scotland, is a mixed-use arts and sports venue that opened as an exhibition centre in 1927. It has been a music hall, indoor arena and barrage balloon factory, and is currently home to the Kelvin Hall International Sports Arena and from 1987 to 2010, Glasgow's Museum of...
in 1987. It was first used as a performance venue in 1988, with Peter Brook
Peter Brook
Peter Stephen Paul Brook CH, CBE is an English theatre and film director and innovator, who has been based in France since the early 1970s.-Life:...
's The Mahabharata. In 1990, it was a prominent venue as part of the European City of Culture celebrations. It has been protected as a category B listed building since 1990.
It has hosted many leading international and Scottish performers and artists, including Robert Lepage
Robert Lepage
Robert Lepage, is a playwright, actor, film director, and stage director from Québec City, Québec, and is one of Canada's most honoured theatre artists.- Life and work :...
, Douglas Gordon
Douglas Gordon
Douglas Gordon is a Scottish artist; he won the Turner Prize in 1996 and the following year he represented Britain at the Venice Biennale...
and Les Ballets C de la B. As well as having close links to Glasgow School of Art
Glasgow School of Art
Glasgow School of Art is one of only two independent art schools in Scotland, situated in the Garnethill area of Glasgow.-History:It was founded in 1845 as the Glasgow Government School of Design. In 1853, it changed its name to The Glasgow School of Art. Initially it was located at 12 Ingram...
and the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama
Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama
The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland is a conservatoire of music, drama, and dance in the centre of Glasgow, Scotland. Founded in 1845 as the Glasgow Educational Association, it is the busiest performing arts venue in Scotland...
. Exhibitions have included the seminal new works by Christine Borland
Christine Borland
Christine Borland is a British artist and one of the Young British Artists . Borland attended the University of Ulster, and the Glasgow School of Art....
and Douglas Gordon
Douglas Gordon
Douglas Gordon is a Scottish artist; he won the Turner Prize in 1996 and the following year he represented Britain at the Venice Biennale...
. Tramway also has a very successful company for young people called Junction 25, which is run by Glas(s) Performance.
In 2003, plans to close the arts centre and convert the building to rehearsal and ancillary space for Scottish Ballet
Scottish Ballet
Scottish Ballet is the national ballet company of Scotland and one of the four leading ballet companies of the United Kingdom, alongside the Royal Ballet, English National Ballet and Birmingham Royal Ballet...
resulted in massive opposition from the arts community and the wider public. Eventually it was decided to house the Ballet facilities in formerly derelict space to the rear of the building, retaining the arts centre in the existing structure. Scottish Ballet has moved into its new home in 2009. Sarah Munro was appointed the first General Manager of Tramway in 2008 and remains in post.
External links
- Tramway - official site