Last years celebrations included a musical celebration in the sunshine. In 2020, a celebration was held inside the museum with songs and a birthday cake. In 2019, the celebration was in West on the Green, as the Palace was closed as dangerous and in need of repair. Covid has kept it closed for most of the time since.

Friends of the People’s Palace & Winter Gardens at Glasgow Green is determined to see the building repaired, renewed and restored so future generations can both enjoy it and immerse themselves in the history and culture of Glasgow as well as basking in the healing warmth of the Winter Gardens. 

This year they will be wrapping the building with a yellow ribbon. There will be music, cake and stories. 

Gray Day  22 January 2022

The event will also be part of  Gray Day celebrations in honour of the artist and writer Alasdair Gray (1934-2019), whose exhibition The Continuous Glasgow Show, 22 January – 1 June 1978 opened the Winter Gardens to the public for the first time since closure for demolition in 1966. Alasdair was on the staff of the People’s Palace for almost a year, producing a series of contemporary Glasgow portraits for the museum collection. He also designed the logo for the Friends of the People’s Palace in 1977 and again for its reincarnation (above) in 2018. To his credit, Alasdair in the last year of his life twice refused the Freedom of the City on the grounds that he disagreed with the way the city had neglected the People’s Palace.

The People’s Palace was built on the ground where the great Franchise Demonstrations of 1832, 1868 and 1884 took place and its construction was a triumph for the Liberal Party, which had governed Glasgow for most of the 19^th century. Subsequent administrations have neglected it, and we will be looking for more solid political support in the forthcoming local elections in May.

Note: for information on Alasdair Gray and the People’s Palace see his Life in Pictures, chapter 14 (Canongate 2010)

For further information contact Isobel Wilson 07515 949726 or Email Issie