DOORS OPEN DAYS 2019 LAUNCH AT GLASGOW'S GOVANHILL BATHS
Last weekend, we kicked off our Doors Open Days thirtieth birthday celebrations with a flower-filled Govanhill Baths. From snapdragons in the stalls to sunflowers in the skylights, we worked with Floraboration to create a mind-blowing floral takeover of one of Glasgow’s best-loved spaces over three glorious, bloom-filled days.
Photo by Donald MacLeod. Part of the floral takeover of the Govanhill Baths, the launch of Doors Open Days 2019.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon officially launched our celebrations on Thursday night, in the presence of some of our favourite friends and colleagues from the heritage sector. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said:
“Over the last three decades Doors Open Days has given people across the country the chance to go behind the scenes and explore buildings and landmarks which are not usually open to the public.
Congratulations to the Scottish Civic Trust for organising this fantastic 30th birthday event and for giving thousands of people the opportunity to appreciate Scotland’s incredible heritage and culture every year.”
She was followed by a mesmerising concert by the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland saxophone quartet in the bottom of the Ladies’ Pool, to the cooing of pigeons in the rafters!
Photo by Donald MacLeod. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon sharing some opening words at the launch of Doors Open Days 2019, Govanhill Baths, Glasgow.
From Friday to Sunday, we opened up Blooms with a View for public viewing, allowing us to show off the amazing combination of bouquets and Baths with visitors from the local community, as well as those who had travelled from further afield.
In keeping with our strategy of making heritage more inclusive, we had a special access platform built to allow those in wheelchairs to view the flowers safely, and we were delighted to see it well-used by buggies as well!
Photo by Susan O’Connor. Special access platform installed for Blooms with a View.
We also put up signs outside the Baths in Polish and Urdu, which seemed to encourage our newer Scots through the doors.
Photo by Susan O’Connor. Multilingual signs welcoming visitor to Blooms with a View at Govanhill Baths, Glasgow.
We met over 700 of you this past weekend and were thrilled to hear that you loved our floral takeover as much as we did. One visitor highlighted what we think is the best part of Doors Open Days:
‘It’s been so fascinating visiting the Govanhill Baths and learning about the interesting places to visit in our local area that I didn’t know about’.
Even though we are a national organisation, our home is in Glasgow and Blooms with a View was a wonderful opportunity for us to engage locally with the many people that make Doors Open Days what it is – a time to celebrate free access to spaces, histories and memories, exploring somewhere new and different or rediscovering old favourites.
We’re also opening up our own offices at the Tobacco Merchants House on 42 Miller Street on Saturday 21 September from 10am-4pm, so if you fancy a peak at the Scottish Civic Trust’s HQ, or you want to discuss anything face to face with us over a cup of tea, then come and say hello!
Photo by Donald MacLeod. Full view of the floral takeover of the Govanhill Baths, Glasgow.