apologies for any cross-posting.... Press Release April 09, 2008 'Given to the People' a film by Simon Yuill Part of Glasgow International DATES Friday 18th April 2008 7pm special launch event, showing the film with live music from Foxface.
Saturday 19th April 2008 1-5pm screenings of film. Sunday 20th April 2008 1pm screenings of film and 3-5pm public discussion. Location: GalGael, 15 Fairley Street, Govan, Glasgow G51 2SN Tel: 0141 427 3070 Nearest tube station: Ibrox 'Given To The People' explores the Free State which was initiated by the actions of local resident, Colin Macleod, who began a tree top protest against the building of the M77 motorway through Pollok Park in the early 1990s. Over several years this grew into a series of camps across Pollok. It sought not only to block an unwanted motorway cutting through one of Europe's largest inner city public commons, land that had been gifted to the people of Glasgow, but also raised issues over the rights of local people to determine the use and development of public space - rights that many felt were being denied. Through an important event in Glasgow's recent history, the rights of public land and private enterprise came into direct conflict. The film raises important issues of land reform and the privatization of urban space that are current in Scotland today. 'Out of the chaos of the scheme an order was born - in the housing schemes people were disempowered, there was no responsibility ... in the Free State people re-learned how to take responsibility and re-learned how to articulate issues that mattered to them'. - Colin Macleod On Sunday 20th April, at 3pm, there will be a public discussion exploring how the legacy of the Free State relates to current issues in the privatization of public space that face many communities in Glasgow today. Contributors will include Free State members, representatives from a number of community campaigns across Glasgow, the film-maker Simon Yuill, and artist Jonathan Akinson who will speak on the demise of free public space in Manchester under the impact of developments similar to those occurring in Glasgow today. The story of the Free State is presented through a film combining original video footage from the camps, interviews with some of the many people involved, and specially composed music by the Glasgow band Foxface. The film will be presented in a free public screening at the GalGael with the music performed live by Foxface on Friday 18th April at 7pm. Info: http://www.giventothepeople.org Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Foxface: http://www.foxfacemusic.com Galgael: http://www.galgael.org Glasgow International: http://www.glasgowinternational.org
