Since 1990 Glasgow has become a powerful and much cited example of culture-led regeneration for cities. Where Glasgow led, cities from Manchester to Barcelona followed.
Thirty years ago, Glasgow was named European City of Culture, following places such as Berlin, Amsterdam and Florence to take the title. It spun Glasgow, long strained by decline and poverty but a place unflinchingly full of human spirit, on its axis with the many legacies of the year-long event still felt today.
For young actor John Gordon Sinclair, star of eighties screen classic Gregory’s Girl, the 1990 award redefined the city and its people. He recalled: “At the time, I had been down in London for eight years. I remember meeting my agent in 1980 for breakfast at Central Station and he said to me ‘if you want to make a go of this, you have to move to London’. That is what happened.
"What the European City of Culture did was make it feel like you didn’t have to do that any more... Keep reading on The Scotsman
Thirty years ago, Glasgow was named European City of Culture, following places such as Berlin, Amsterdam and Florence to take the title. It spun Glasgow, long strained by decline and poverty but a place unflinchingly full of human spirit, on its axis with the many legacies of the year-long event still felt today.
For young actor John Gordon Sinclair, star of eighties screen classic Gregory’s Girl, the 1990 award redefined the city and its people. He recalled: “At the time, I had been down in London for eight years. I remember meeting my agent in 1980 for breakfast at Central Station and he said to me ‘if you want to make a go of this, you have to move to London’. That is what happened.
"What the European City of Culture did was make it feel like you didn’t have to do that any more... Keep reading on The Scotsman