A POPULAR festival will mark a community’s “courageous act of compassion’ when it kicks off this weekend.
The Southside Fringe opens with the Kenmure Street Festival of Resistance on Friday, May 13, celebrating the solidarity shown by Pollokshields residents in standing up to the Home Office one year ago.
Hundreds of residents protested when officials arrived to collect Sumit Sehdev and Lakhvir Singh, refusing to allow the van to leave. As a result, the two men were let go several hours later.
“This was a powerful Southside community response to the inhumane treatment of refugees and asylum seekers,” explains Fringe organiser Corinna Currie.
“This is a free event, organised by The Pollokshields Trust and Govanhill Baths Community Trust, which begins with a silent vigil to remember refugees who have perished due to hostile policies. Placards and banners are welcome.”
The vigil will take place at 5.25pm on Friday and a festival of food, music and dance will run from 12pm until 5pm on Saturday, May 14.
“As well as great food, music and the chance to dance, this sounds like a great event to connect with campaigning organisations, anti-racist groups and fellow activists,” adds Corinna.
The Southside Fringe (May 14 to 22) will also include a Record Fair, Vintage Market, kids’ art classes, live mural painting, stalls and a vegan BBQ. MyShawlands have organised a day of inflatables outside Langside Halls on May 14, and a weekend of Makers’ Fairs in Shawlands Arcade will close the festival on May 21 and 22.
Everything Must Go, a window exhibition curated by artists Georgia Thornton Sparkes and Grace Higgins Brown, will take place over the course of the festival, and Samuel Logan will host an Open Mic at Armstrong’s Bar on May 18. There is more music at the Ice Box Arts and Music Centre, Glad Café and the Pearce Institute, while the Southside Games Festival will also return on May 18.
Arts Enigma’s theatre production Dancing With The Devil runs from May 13 to 15 at The Shed and the Wee Retreat is hosting the launch of Glasgow - City of Poets on the May 22.
The first Southside Wellbeing Festival in partnership with Finn’s Place and The Wee Retreat CIC will take place on the final weekend.”
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