Garnethill Multicultural Centre

Garnethill is positioned within the Glasgow Central Conservation Area, home to the Glasgow School of Art and wedged between the motorway, looking out into a rapidly changing city center. This makes it the place of transitory movement, change and yet also tradition as there is a deep friendship between residents. The building began being rented from St Aloysius, by the Garnethill Community Action Group in 1982. Restoration works took place and in 1988, it was formally opened as a community center by Lord Provost Gray. In 2020, the Garnethill Multicultural Centre SCIO was successful in attracting funding from the Scottish Land Fund which was used to finally purchase the building. The center sits amongst many other noticeable historic buildings. The area was was originally named after the professor of Natural Philosophy, Thomas Garnett who opened an Egyptian style observatory here in the 1810. Garnethill is home to classically designed tenements built in the 1800’s – two of which are now listed ‘Category A. There is also the Sick Children’s Hospital, St Aloysius College, the Cosmo Cinema (now the GFT), the Mackintosh building at the Art school and Scotland’s first ever purpose built synagogue on Hill Street. Modern Interventions, such as Garnethill park, have become central to the community. This includes the beautiful mosaic in the park which was constructed by local artists, children, and community groups which came together in 1979 as part of The Garnethill Mural Project.