Kinning Park Complex marks 30 years since sit in protest saved site

The Kinning Park Complex is marking 30 years since a 55 day sit in protest saved the site from closure.

In 1996, the then Strathclyde Regional Council earmarked the community hub for closure, sparking a months long 24/7 protest.

Local women occupied the space around the clock between the start of May and the end of June, until a decision to keep it open was made.

Now, 30 years on, the KPC is marking the anniversary with 55 days of events and projects.

Among them will be screenings of films like Everybody to Kenmure Street, and Birdman of Pollok.

"You can absolutely represent what your community wants"

Director Bruce McDowall told Clyde 1 there will be a focus on “grassroots activism”, and the difference it has made all over Glasgow.

He said: “There are a lot of other spaces in Glasgow that have kind of come through similar struggles to Kinning Park.

“It is something that is quite well known in Glasgow.

“Govan Hill baths celebrated their 25th anniversary as well of claiming back that space for the community, and there’s lots of other spaces dotted around Glasgow who do fulfil the same function we do, just in different parts of the city.”

He continued: “Whether it’s Kinning Park or whether it’s other local community spaces that people get involved with, I think having that local commitment and local involvement and also that local voice, so that you can absolutely represent what your community wants to see change, and want to see happen in your area, that’s kind of where the difference can be made.”

Along with screenings of films, the KPC is also working on an oral history project.

At the time of the protest the building was a neighbourhood centre, run by the regional centre, but before that it was a school.

Bruce told Clyde 1: We’re encouraging the local community to drop in and tell us their stories and their memories of Kinning Park Complex and the building, whatever form that was.

"Safe space"

“It was originally a school, so some people have come in and said ‘Oh yeah, I remember going to school here, and this is where you did domestic science’.”

He also hopes it will remind people of how important community spaces are to help support people living in the area.

Bruce said: “Community centres such as Kinning Park really do offer that safe space that people can kind of come together, they can share their problems and they can work out what action they can do together to make changes, and that is just so important at the moment, because I think the world feels like a very scary place.”

Anyone who would like to be part of the projects, or take part in the events, can learn more on the KPC website.

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