Your Heritage
Joe Brady, Head of Integration at the Scottish Refugee Council, who delivered the project, is under no illusions about the importance of this work.
"This is a unique moment in time in the history of Glasgow, and we wanted to capture that. As far as the demolition of the high flats is concerned, many of them are iconic buildings. But when they come down, you're also looking at the future. Refugees and asylum-seekers are part of our communities and the future of this city."
Brady says he was struck by Glasgow's reputation as a city where people have for generations arrived in search of protection and shelter.
"When I was looking at the timeline for the demolition of the Norfolk Court blocks, I was reminded that the Gorbals has always been a place where people came to. Some were refugees, others were migrants. That's who many of the indigenous Scots in our communities are."
Through oral testimonies, researching local archives and collecting historical documents and photographs, the project explored this history. This was then interpreted in exhibitions, documentary films, theatre performances, and events.
“The film shows how for certain communities in Glasgow, their homes and lives have been ripped up and cast to the four corners of Glasgow in the big schemes.
“The project was about exploring that past, not only with the indigenous communities but with asylum-seekers, refugees and migrants too.”