Socialist Sunday School project Media Release

MEDIA RELEASE – 13.06.11

Socialist Sunday School project by artist Ruth Ewan
A Call for Information

For Glasgow International Festival of Visual Art (GI) 2012, Scottish artist Ruth Ewan will be investigating the Socialist Sunday School movement, prevalent in Glasgow in the first half of the twentieth century.

The movement’s aims were designed to counter the dominant influences of Liberalism, Conservatism and ultimately capitalism, thought by many to be promoted by both church and state schools, at that time. The Socialist Sunday Schools had no formulated curriculum, although guidelines were circulated on ethics, morality, love and social responsibility. Throughout the UK these schools flourished in tandem with the Independent Labour Party up until its decline in the early 1930s. Glasgow however avoided this fate with some of its Socialist Schools remaining in operation throughout the 1950s and 60s, and, according to some sources did not cease completely until the 1970s.

For the GI Festival 2012, artist Ruth Ewan will create an exhibition, publication and programme of public events reflecting on her research into the Socialist Sunday School Movement in Glasgow. She will include and draw on material from city archives such as Mitchell Library, Peoples Palace and Scottish Screen.

Importantly, Ruth is keen to hear from and meet as many people who attended, or knew others that attended, the Socialist Sunday Schools, to provide new oral histories and material to add to the archives. Ruth hopes that these contributions will form a major part of her project presented at Glasgow International Festival of Visual Art, which will take place from Friday 20th April - Monday 7th May 2012.

If you or a friend or family member attended the Socialist Sunday Schools and you would like to offer your knowledge or memories please contact curators Siobhan Carroll and Kitty Anderson on .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or call the GI Festival office on 0141 276 8384.

Glasgow International Festival of Visual Art (GI) is a world-class festival that has grown out of and celebrates the vibrant, internationally renowned visual arts sector of Glasgow, whilst also showcasing the best of international visual arts.  GI takes place over 18 days every second year, featuring a programme of exhibitions, events, projects, talks, screenings and performances that have been specifically developed for the Festival by both established artists and emerging talent.  A citywide event that uses a broad range of spaces, the Festival will again present some of the best in contemporary art in an array of spaces and locations, including key venues such as the Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA) and Tramway, through to temporary venues and public spaces in the city.

—-ENDS—-

Notes to Editors

1. The Glasgow International Festival of Visual Art (GI) takes place from Friday 20th April 2012 until Monday 7th May 2012.

2. Glasgow International Festival of Visual Art is funded by Glasgow City Council, Glasgow: Scotland with style, Creative Scotland, EventScotland and Scottish Enterprise. GI is produced and managed by Glasgow Life.

3. Ruth Ewan was born in Aberdeen and lives and works in London. Recent and forthcoming exhibitions and projects include: Folkestone Triennial, Dundee Contemporary Arts (both 2011), ‘Dreadnoughts’ Chisenhale, London, Art Sheffield, ‘Altermodern’, Tate Triennial, Tate Britain, London (2009), Frieze Projects, London, (2009) and ‘Nought to Sixty’ ICA, London (2008).
Ewan is interested in the dissemination and control of radical ideas. Her ‘A Jukebox of People Trying to Change The World’, a collection of politically engaged songs, exemplifies her method of researching and assembling strands of history, and presenting them in ways that highlight their continued relevance and potential for change.

4. This is project by Ruth Ewan,is commissioned by Glasgow International Festival of Visual Art and is co-curated by Kitty Anderson and Siobhan Carroll in association with The Common Guild.