Hopes for revamp of Glasgow’s People’s Palace and Winter Gardens after cash boost

The museum, which showcases the social and cultural history of Glasgow, was closed in late 2018 over safety issues

The People’s Palace.

A project seeking to breathe new life into a Glasgow attraction has secured initial funding it is hoped will lead to a further award worth millions of pounds.

Glasgow Life, the charity which delivers culture and sports in the city, confirmed it has been granted £850,000 of development funding for the reimagined People’s Palace and Winter Gardens on Wednesday.

The National Lottery Heritage Fund award will be used to progress a vision to transform the attraction into “a dynamic, community-led museum and flexible space”, the charity said.

It is anticipated the development phase of the project will take around 16 months.

The museum, which showcases the social and cultural history of Glasgow, was closed in late 2018 over safety issues.

It later reopened but the enclosed gardens were kept closed prompting concerns for the maintenance of plants inside.

Bailie Annette Christie, chair of Glasgow Life, said: “For 126 years the People’s Palace and Winter Gardens has been one of Glasgow’s most treasured spaces, but it is now in need of significant investment.

“This announcement of Heritage Fund support is wonderful and crucial to breathing new life into the museum.

“While there is still work to be done to secure additional external funding, we can now move forward with this exciting project to restore, re-imagine, and improve a much-loved cultural and historical asset.

“We will use all we have learned about engaging with communities, developing innovative digital technology, and designing accessible spaces, to celebrate the people of Glasgow and tell the city’s stories in a world-class, accessible, and sustainable museum.

“This will bring a wealth of social and economic benefits to the people in the East End of Glasgow and beyond.”

Eilish McGuinness, chief executive of the National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “I am delighted we are supporting this inspiring project, which is not only about redeveloping a much-loved building, but also rediscovering the story of Glasgow and putting the People’s Palace and Winter Gardens back in the heart of local communities.

“This initial support paves the way for an award of up to £7.5 million, which would be amongst the largest Heritage Fund awards made to a single project in Scotland.

“This reflects our new strategy to invest larger amounts in truly exceptional heritage projects across the UK, supporting our vision for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future.”

Glasgow City Council has already committed £2.9 million to the project, which is expected to cost £39.5 million in total. The local authority is expected to commit a further £11 million in due course.

Councillor Ruairi Kelly, city convener for neighbourhood services and assets, said: “It’s great news that such a significant funding award has been secured for the People’s Palace.

“This award can add £7.5 million to the pot, which would be a massive step closer to the goal of revitalising the People’s Palace and Winter Gardens.

“We remain fully committed to exploring every avenue to raise the remainder of the funding required to bring this major part of Glasgow’s working-class history back to life.

“We want to see the People’s Palace and Winter Gardens fully restored and functioning as a great cultural attraction for Glasgow’s residents and visitors alike.”