THOSE WERE THE DAY'S!!!

           An appeal for help, all those old anarchists, socialists and communists who might have some info on the sadly missed Socialist Sunday Schools, well now's the time to pass it on for the present and future generations. Our kids should have an alternative to the bland pro-establishment pulp that is pumped from ever avenue of media, education and political parties. However, it is up to us.

Socialist Sunday School Project by Ruth Ewan, A Call For Information.

        For Glasgow International Festival of Visual Art (GI) 2012, Scottish artist Ruth Ewan will be investigating the Socialist Sunday School movement, prevalent in Glasgow in the first half of the twentieth century.

A SOCIALIST Sunday school, I'd  go ti tha'.

       The movement's aims were designed to counter the dominant influences of Liberalism, Conservatism and ultimately capitalism, thought by many to be promoted by both church and state schools at that time. The Socialist Sunday Schools had no formulated curriculum, although guidelines were circulated on ethics, morality, love and social responsibility. Throughout the UK these schools flourished in tandem with the Independent Labour Party up until its decline in the early 1930s. Glasgow however avoided this fate with some of its Socialist Schools remaining in operation throughout the 1950s and 60s, and, according to some sources did not cease completely until the 1970s.

Wi' dis socialist mean?

       For the GI Festival 2012, artist Ruth Ewan will create an exhibition, publication and programme of public events reflecting on her research into the Socialist Sunday School Movement in Glasgow. She will include and draw on material from city archives such as Mitchell Library, People's Palace and Scottish Screen.

My book's called "Mutual Aid".

        Importantly, Ruth is keen to hear from and meet as many people who attended, or knew others that attended, the Socialist Sunday Schools, to provide new oral histories and material to add to the archives. Ruth hopes that these contributions will form a major part of her project presented at Glasgow International Festival of Visual Art, which will take place from Friday 20th April - Monday 7th May 2012.

       If you or a friend or family member attended the Socialist Sunday Schools and you would like to offer your knowledge or memories please contact curators Siobhan Carroll and Kitty Anderson on sundayschool@glasgowinternational.org or call the GI Festival office on 0141 276 8384.

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