Great News! SiMY has been awarded funding from the Glasgow Festival Fund as part of the 2026 Commonwealth Games to host our biggest summer community party yet, this Saturday, 8th August, from 12 – 3 pm!
This year, inspired by the objectives of the fund, we’ll be creating an event that focuses on:
- Showcasing and celebrating the diversity of our communities
- Creating exciting, inclusive and safe experiences for residents and visitors.
- Increasing participation in sports and culture
- And building civic pride in our neighbourhoods!
As you know, over the past few years, SiMY and local residents have been working hard together to protect the Lister St bowling greens from private redevelopment, and transform the greens from an underused space into a thriving community green space and garden.
This event is a chance to recognise, discuss, and celebrate all the progress the local community has achieved so far towards this goal. And the celebration is happening just in time to showcase the new welcome archway and sign that young people at SiMY created this summer, in partnership with Boomerang Community Woodwork, that officially renames the former bowling greens as the ‘SiMY Grassroots Garden’!
But that’s not all that’s new! We will be unveiling several new murals in the grassroots garden that were made with different groups of young people here at SIMY. Our Charles Rennie Mackintosh-inspired mural celebrates Townhead’s rich cultural heritage through the iconic artist’s strong connection to the area.
And you can help us continue to create meaningful artworks to transform the grassroots garden by coming along on Saturday and joining in our “We’re All Fae Somewhere” ceramic flag workshop. Led by Creative Bloc, local people can create ceramic flags representing their countries of origin, or those they have a connection to, which will become part of a permanent community artwork celebrating Townhead’s diverse community.
Visitors can also take part in a songwriting workshop with Glasgow musician Kenny Bates, exploring the stories and cultures that make up the local community, enjoy a live performance from the newly reformed Samba Ya Bamba youth choir, join in Commonwealth-themed sports and games, and enjoy BBQ food from The Courtyard Pantry, an employability project run by the mental health charity Flourish House.
And of course no summer party would be complete without all the classic family favourites, including a bouncy castle, face painting, balloon twisting, and plenty of other fun games and activities.
So anyone and everyone of all ages, please come along this Saturday 8th August to the SiMY Grassroots Garden from 12-3 pm for a fabulous, free, family-friendly, fun day; raincoats and brollies advised!
