Festival event’s fifth year on the street

STREETLAND celebrates its fifth year in 2014 — and organisers are calling on southsiders to get involved.

The Govanhill festival takes place on June 7 this year, and plans for the big day are well underway — as are calls for volunteers and resident artists.

Joanne Neill, a member of the Streetland group, told The Extra: “It’s all voluntary — anyone can come along and help organise the day, and we welcome anyone, from funders to performers to those just interested in the area.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The community event has always focused on the streets and back lanes surrounding Westmoreland Street — but this year, Streetland is branching out.

Joanne explained: “We’ve joined on to the Glasgow Housing Association family day, so we’re spreading ourselves even further. Events will run right up to Samaritan House and the park, so it’ll be like one big long street party, and we hope people from further afield will come.”

The main event may be in June, but the festival will be making it all the way up to Victoria Road as early as April, with a temporary sculpture park set up (at Butterbiggins Road).

As for June 7, a programme of events is being drawn up — and if last year’s offerings are anything to go by, there’s lots in the Streetland pipeline.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Joanne added: “In previous years we’ve had outdoor exhibitions, as well as Romanian dancing and facepainting. Last year we had Shambolica — a dance jazz act — performing in the alleys and kids loved them. And over at Govanhill Baths there was a cafe set up, with activities running throughout the day.”

Anyone interested in volunteering can find out more by visiting streetland.ning.com — and for more info on Streetland events, watch the same space.