THE Scottish Government has announced up to £14 million in conditional support towards the refurbishment of the People’s Palace and Winter Gardens in Glasgow.
The investment comes in addition to the £19.55 million of funding contributions from Glasgow City Council, Glasgow Life, and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Noting that the People’s Palace has ‘long made culture and heritage available to all’, the Scottish Government said it is one of the city’s most ‘recognisable’ and ‘cherished’ attractions.
The refurbishment is expected to support jobs and footfall in Glasgow’s east end, helping local businesses and strengthening the wider visitor economy. It will safeguard historic collections and artefacts that tell the story of Glasgow’s working people and help protect the Winter Gardens attached to the venue as a green space for community use.
Scottish Government culture secretary, Màiri McAllan, said, “I am pleased to confirm that the Scottish Government has announced up to £14 million in conditional support to the refurbishment of the People’s Palace and secure its reopening to the public. This is about far more than bricks and mortar.
“The People’s Palace has welcomed generations of Glaswegians as well as visitors from further afield, and this investment will ensure they can continue to enjoy it for decades to come. It will also protect historic collections which tell the story of Glasgow’s working people, safeguard the much-loved Winter Gardens as a space for the whole community, and support jobs and footfall in the city’s east end.
“This conditional support reflects an exceptional cross-sector partnership and demonstrates what can be achieved when government, funders and cultural organisations work together around a shared vision. The People’s Palace is a cherished part of Glasgow’s story and Scotland’s cultural heritage. This investment demonstrates our support for preserving that legacy, and I look forward to seeing the refurbishment plans move forward.”
