Opening dates revealed for many city museums and gyms

The charitable organisation, which runs cultural and sporting activities for Glasgow City Council, expects the pandemic’s full-year impact to run into tens of millions of pounds.

Lockdown restrictions forced venues to close in March, slashing income.

Opening dates have been planned for 61 buildings over four phases between now and October, subject to government guidance.

David McDonald, the charity’s chairman and depute leader of the council, hopes citizens will “re-engage with cultural life”.

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“It is crucial, when venues reopen, the first people through the door are Glasgow residents.”

He added the charity will need to "redesign" its offer but is committed to no compulsory redundancies.

There is a “much wider financial loss” to the city to be calculated due to the cancellation of events like TRNSMT and the Scottish Cup final, he said.

“All of that has been drained out of the city economy. We have got to think how we gear up for the future.”

Childcare is the initial priority and will be provided in community centres at Bellcraig, Castlemilk and Ruchazie from July 20.

It will then be offered at the Geoff Shaw community centre and centres in Govanhill, Darnley and Maryhill from August 3.

Libraries at Ibrox, Partick, Pollokshaws and Shettleston will open, with reduced capacity, on August 10.

Glasgow Clubs – John Paul, Drumoyne, Haghill and Springburn – will open for educational use on that day, as will Milton Community Campus.

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum can re-open on Monday, August 17, with a reduced capacity.

That date will also see the re-opening of the gym, fitness studios and outdoor pitches at Glasgow Club Scotstoun and the outdoor pitches at Glasgow Green Football Centre.

The gym and fitness studios at Tollcross International Swimming Centre and the outdoor pitches at Toryglen Regional Football Centre will open on August 25.

The Riverside Museum opens at reduced capacity on August 31. Glasgow Club Donald Dewar will open its gym, fitness studios and outdoor pitches on that day and the Emirates Arena will open gym and fitness studios.

Tramway can open, at a reduced capacity, on Monday, September 7 alongside libraries at Easterhouse, Drumchapel and the Gorbals.

Gyms and fitness studios at Glasgow Clubs in Bellahouston and the Gorbals will open on that date too.

They will open at Glasgow Clubs at Kelvin Hall and Castlemilk on September 14 and Springburn and Maryhill on September 21.

Pools at Tollcross’ swimming centre and Glasgow Club Gorbals are scheduled to open on September 28.

The GOMA and libraries in Possilpark, Bridgeton and Royston can open, at reduced capacity, from October 5.

Under phase one of the plan, 11 golf, tennis and lawn bowls facilities re-opened last month.

Mr McDonald said Kelvingrove and the Riverside are the first museums to open “partly because they are the most popular and people have really missed them”.

But he added the size of those buildings makes it easier to roll out physical distancing measures. There will be sanitising stations and a new booking system.

Some of the libraries will open earlier than others because they have access to the street and offer “support with wider social issues”, such as benefits.

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Nearly 1000 Glasgow Life staff have been furloughed over the past few months, with many more shielding.

The charity runs 171 venues, but Mr McDonald said: “There is no way we can reopen all of those safely.

"Our financial and staffing constraints are unlike anything we’ve ever faced and mean we’re not able to operate all of our venues and services just now; it’s simply not possible.

"Planning around government guidance which is changing regularly, the welfare of our staff, and the viability of adapting our venues to meet social distancing takes time and we have a responsibility to get it right from the outset."

He wants to have an “open and honest” conversation with the public to work out which facilities are most-valued. The city council has sent a letter of comfort, pledging to continue financial support.

Mr McDonald said celebrations had been planned this year to mark 30 years since Glasgow was European Capital of Culture.

“The main achievement of 1990 was transforming Glasgow into a cultural powerhouse,” he said. He wants to “see the same energy” when venues re-open.