Design and inspirational excellence, individuality and style, retail and residential, public art and architecture, boldness and innovation
Merchant City 5 Year Action Plan
Glasgow City Council have recently approved a further Five Year Action Plan for the Merchant City (2007-12) building on the success of the first Five Year Action Plan which saw a wide range of achievements from refurbishment and re-letting of 33 previously vacant shop units creating employment space for over 70 people to a programme of artworks in the area. The Plan is a response to the issues that affect this area in terms of the difficult economic/ trading conditions, the fabric and structural degradation of many of the historic buildings in the area and the need to raise the profile and marketing image of this part of the city centre to both locals and visitors.
The Five Year Plan is now being acted on. The aim is to drive forward the regeneration and revitalisation of this historically important part of Glasgow.
During the next phase of the Merchant City Action Plan it is proposed that a Public Art Strategy is developed and implemented for the Merchant City. This will see the commissioning of temporary and permanent artworks in a variety of locations throughout the area. Public art is seen as an effective way to create a strong sense of individuality and identity in the Merchant City, to further put it on the map as the city’s ‘arts quarter’.
The Merchant City Initiative has also been strongly supporting local traders and stakeholders in the formation of the Merchant City Tourism and Marketing Co-op Ltd. This Group has been formed to put the Merchant City, long hailed as Glasgow’s undiscovered gem, firmly on the map of any visitor’s itinerary. The Group has been also supported by Visitscotland and Scottish Enterprise. Its Action Plan is available to download and you can find further information at merchantcityglasgow.com
