Doors Open Days 2019 - Weekend 4
Doors Open Days Weekend 4 features unique sites and unforgettable experiences! Check out some highlights we've picked out for you below.
Weekend 4
21st & 22nd September
Highland - Badenoch and Strathspey • Moray (Saturday only) • North Lanarkshire • Orkney
** Monday 16th to Sunday 22nd September**
Glasgow
THE GARMENT FACTORY (Glasgow)
Open for Doors Open Days Friday 20 September, 10am-8pm; Saturday 21 & Sunday 22 September, 10am-5pm.
Come visit the Glasgow Doors Open Days Festival Hub located at the Garment Factory. The Garment Factory was originally a Victorian textiles factory and has been recently restored and transformed into contemporary office and retail spaces. The festival hub is a drop-in space with information about the festival as well as a range of different exhibitions. The hub also hosts a programme of talks, events and a film screening. Highlights for this weekend's programme at the hub include a talk about the imperial history of Kelvingrove, a drop-in session by Refuweegee to write welcome letters to recently arrived people, and a queering the map of Glasgow workshop.
To find out what other buildings will be open during Doors Open Days in Glasgow, click here.
CASTLE ROY, NETHY BRIDGE (Highland - Badenoch and Strathspey)
Open for Doors Open Days on Saturday 21 & Sunday 22 September, 11am-4pm.
Castle Roy is reported to be the oldest masonry fortification in Scotland, dating from 1200 (MacGibbon and Ross 1872-1914) and is a very rare example of an unaltered building of its type.
It will remain the most accessible fortress when it opens to the public. The site is currently undergoing a consolidation that has lasted for over 25 years. However the end is in sight and the Castle Roy Trust is keen to open its doors, show the work being carried out and explain its history.
The castle is a building site so people looking around will need to be escorted but all are welcome including children. Please dress appropriately.
To find out what other buildings will be open during Doors Open Days in Highland - Badenoch and Strathspey, click here.
FINDHORN HERITAGE ICEHOUSE (Moray)
Open for Doors Open Days on Saturday 21 September, 11am-5pm.
Mid-19th Century Commercial Icehouse built to support the local Coastal Salmon Netting industry. The underground chambers were used to store natural ice which kept the fish fresh on their way to the London Markets. The chambers now contain displays relating to the Salmon Fishing. Children’s quiz available. The museum opposite the Icehouse will also be open.
To find out what other buildings will be open during Doors Open Days in Moray, click here.
SUMERLEE MUSEUM OF SCOTTISH INDUSTRIAL LIFE (North Lanarkshire)
Open for Doors Open Days on Saturday 21 September, 10am-5pm.
Summerlee, the museum of Scottish Industrial Life, reopened in September 2008 following a major £10 million redevelopment.
The main exhibition hall was completely stripped out and refitted and the new hall now provides a modern and environmentally sustainable setting for some of Scotland's most important displays of social and industrial history, including many 'star' items from the collection unseen by the public.
Much of the Museum’s collection of industrial machinery is in working condition and the interactive displays gives 'hands on' experience, allowing visitors to explore their industrial heritage in a new and exciting way.
Museum is open from 10am-5pm with Doors Open Days activities as follows:
- Curator Led Tours of the Industrial History Store (11am-12 noon; 1pm-2pm): Join the Industrial History Curator for a fascinating behind the scenes tour of the newly refurbished museum store. See objects and learn more about the story of industrial Lanarkshire. Booking recommended. Please call 01236 856150.
- Tours of the tramp depot (2pm-5pm)
- Sea Hames by Oceanallover (10am-5pm): Sea Hames is an immersive performance piece by the acclaimed Oceanallover and is a visceral and poetic response to the mythology and iconography of horses. It will take place around Summerlee Museum and is suitable for families. Please wear weather appropriate clothing and footwear.
- Exhibition hall (10am-5pm) with displays and interactives telling the story of industry (10am-5pm)
- See the Vulcan exhibition (10am-5pm), housed within a replica of Scotland’s first iron hulled boat, sited on the Gartsherrie cut of James Watt’s Monkland canal.
- Visit the Miners’ row (10am-5pm) with houses and gardens showing life from 1840s to the 1980s and also an old fashioned sweetie shop for a soor ploom or a lollipop,
- Numerous outdoor exhibits (10am-5pm) including a sawmill, wood drying shed, engines, locomotives and much more!
- Large play area, picnic area, and outdoor walks (10am-5pm)
Other activities on offer, but for which a charge applies:
- Mine tours (1pm-4pm): £1.10 for adults/ 65p for children (no disabled access)
- Heritage tram rides (10am–4:30pm): all day tickets £1.65 for adults/ 85p for children.
To find out what other buildings will be open during Doors Open Days in North Lanarkshire, click here.
RADIO ORKNEY (Orkney)
Open for Doors Open Days Saturday 21 September, 10am-12noon.
BBC Radio Orkney went on air in May 1977. It is the county’s community station, broadcasting half an hour of local news and features weekday mornings, with a lunchtime news update. The Friday Request programme runs year round, other local programmes broadcast from six till seven weeknights during the autumn and winter. The building, Commercial Union House, used to be a bank, and the safe is still there in reception (but it’s empty). Upstairs the main broadcast studio features a mixing desk that once was used by the super-star DJs of wonderful Radio One. The station also has a small contribution point for use by other parts of the BBC when the main studio is busy. Drop by for guided tours on the hour!
To find out what other buildings will be open during Doors Open Days in Orkney, click here.
SCULPTOURS
We’ve teamed up with Sculpture Placement Group to find new homes for sculptures by artists working in Scotland.
Our focus this year is on adoptions into venues in Glasgow's Doors Open Days programme, reflecting the fact that Glasgow was where Doors Open Days was first delivered 30 years ago. There are some venues outside of Glasgow too! click here to see the map of adoptions that you can visit.
These adoptions will remain in place for at least a year, and a talk or workshop will be programmed with each building's community, for those placed in Glasgow.
DIGITAL DOORS OPEN
If you can't get out and about this September, Digital Doors Open is bringing some of Scotland's best buildings to you. For Doors Open Days 30th Anniversary we have partnered with Smart History and the Centre for Archeology, Technology and Cultural Heritage at the University of St. Andrews to work wiht communities to digitise buildings throughout the country. Volunteers are busy taking photographs of the interiors of different buildings, which will then be stitched together to create 360-degree virtual tours.
Head to our Digital Doors Open page to see an example of what Digital Doors Open Days will provide with the digital rendering of Paisley Abbey.
YOUNG ADVISORY PANEL
Through funding from Year of Young People National Lottery Fund, we assembled a panel of young people to provide their perspective on their location's festival this year. The YAP team have been tasked with creating print and video guides to their location.
Whose guide will you need this weekend?
GLASGOW - The YAP member for Glasgow is Sophie. In her guide, Sophie highlights makers, artists and creators in Glasgow's programme. Sophie also took over our Instagram on Monday to share some of her favourite Doors Open Days spots - head to @doorsopendaysscotland and check out the highlights to see her explore a few of the festival's venues!
Click here to see the guides & video highlights.
CULTURAL EMBASSIES
Ever wondered what connects the Slovaks to the Scots, or the Dutch to Dalkeith? We've charted the connections between 27 European member states and created our own map of Europe in Scotland. You will see that our shared culture takes many forms, shapes and sizes, from ancient fortifications to genetically engineered goats!
Pick up your copy in a range of iCentres aross Scotland or download a copy of the brochure here. Head to the sites, snap a pic and tag us on social media for the chance to win a prize!