What does this man have against our. comedy editor?
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GoMA is one of only two Council-run galleries likely to be open on Mondays
lue Mondysfor Iasgow
Threatened weekly museum closures fly in the face of new culture policy. Words: Allan Radcliffe.
lasgow (‘ity (‘ouncil is considering closing I l of
its l3 museums every Monday in order to save
£l()().()()() per year. The threatened closures are pad of' a scheme to help fund the cily"s £60 million deal on equal pay for women. World class attractions such as the Burrell Collection. the l’eople‘s Palace and the McLellan (ialleries are among those set to be affected. with only the (lallery of" Modern Art and the refurbished Kelvingrove Museum and Art (iallery (which reopens this summer) escaping closure. The council currently l'unds all l3 venues. which are traditionally free at the point ol'entty.
The situation may set a precedent for culture in other
Scottish cities as all 32 of the nation's local authorities will eventually have to pay out between £350 million and £500 million in order to provide parity of pay to female workers. While equal pay for women is of vital importance. the notion that cash-strapped local authorities should borrow from cultural budgets in order to redress this imbalance is worrying. More topically. it contradicts the Scottish
lixecutive's (‘ulture Policy statement. published last week. which details the role local authorities must play in developing ‘cultural entitlements‘ in their areas. "l'hc cultural planning activity of local authorities should include entitlements that address identified need in each authority area. The lixecutive anticipates this approach should open tip a range of choices for local people.' By closing museums and galleries one day a week so soon alter culture minister Patricia l‘erguson's statement. Glasgow (‘ity (‘ouncil would be off to the worst possible start in its efforts to enforce cultural entitlements. Glasgow‘s free museums and galleries attract around l()().()()() schoolchildren. their parents and teachers annually. and provide a regular social htib for many retired people. particularly during the summer months.
According to a spokesperson. no budget decisions will be taken until the full meeting of the council on ‘) l’ebruary. after which any proposals will be put out to public consultation via wwwglasgow.gov.uk.
GLASGOW ARTIST HEADS FOR GLENFIDDICH
I The 2006 Glenfiddich Artists in Residence programme has been unveiled. Artists heading for the Dufftown, Banffshire distillery include the acclaimed Glasgow-based filmmaker Rosalind Nashashibi, whose work explores relations between the observed and the invented. Nashashibi (pictured) says of her award: ‘Going into new situations is a central part of my practice. This will be my first visit to the Glenfiddich distillery. I am looking forward to spending time responding to the location and living and working with new groups of people.’ Established in 2002, the prestigious residencies are offered based on recommendations from leading international curators and critics. Nashashibi will be joined by French installation artist Stéphane Magnin and Chi-tsung Wu, a film and video artist from Taiwan. (AR)
I Edinburgh’s Omni Centre is to host the world premiere of Greyfriars Bobby (part of which was filmed outside The List’s office) on Tuesday 7 February in its Vue cinema. The event is being organised in association with the Journalist Charity, Barnardos and the Dogs Trust, and will host stars of the remake, including Christopher Lee and Sean Pertwee as well as the canine hero himself.
I It's the end of a literary era. as Princes Street's Bargain Books is set to close its doors for the last time. The discount bookshop first opened nearly a quarter of a century ago and achieved infamy due to its late opening during the summer months.
I The battle of the Kelvingrove Park bandstand rages on. Franz Ferdinand, Belle and Sebastian and Teenage Fanclub have pledged to appear at a gig this summer, aimed at raising the £500,000 required for the B-Iisted 1920s venue’s restoration. Those keen to see the bandstand used again can contact their local councillor via www.brocweb.com/ kelvingrove.
I The highly successful A Play a Pie and a Pint returns to Glasgow's Oran Mor on 6 February. The season opens with The Mat/nee Idle. scripted by one half of the Glasgow Fabulous comic strip partnership that designed a series for The Llst's Festival issues. entitled The Mat/nee Idol.
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