Exterior of the People's Palace museum on Glasgow Green
10 April 2024
Final days before People’s Palace, Glasgow closes for major refurbishment
The People’s Palace will close its doors for a final time on Sunday 14 April, ahead of a major refurbishment. A completely reimagined and restored museum and glasshouse is expected to reopen in 2027.
Excited staff at the much-loved museum have welcomed more visitors than normal this week. Locals and visitors to the city are keen to see the many treasures on display before the popular attraction closes this weekend.
Gallery and learning assistants were abuzz with anticipation ahead of what is expected to be a busy final weekend, filled with family activities allowing people to explore the city’s incredible social history collection.
Highlights include an opportunity to reminisce about Glasgow’s past at the single end, Steamie and Buttercup Dairy displays and a rare opportunity to have your picture taken standing behind a cardboard cut-out of Billy Connolly’s iconic banana boots, will make it look like you are wearing the Big Yin’s favourite footwear.
The project team will also be on hand to gather feedback from the local community on what they would like to see in the revitalised People’s Palace and Winter Gardens.
Funding secured from The National Lottery Heritage Fund means the next stage of this transformational project can begin in earnest as soon as the building closes.
Bailie Annette Christie, Chair of Glasgow Life, said: “It is a busy week for everyone at the Palace. Staff are keen to share their excitement about the next stage of the project to completely revitalise the museum and glasshouse. Sunday might be a little strange, closing the doors a final time for quite a long time. But we cannot wait to move forward with our vision to reimagine the whole place and create a dynamic community-led museum and civic space, which will foster new ways to promote inclusion, access, and participation.
“With only a few days left to experience all this wonderful museum has to offer, I would urge everyone to take this final opportunity to see the Palace before we close and continue to work with local communities on this exciting transformation.”
A specialist project team will be brought together with the remit of championing the successful community-centred approach used to great acclaim at The Burrell Collection. By collaborating with local people, and using their views, insights, and opinions to shape all aspects of the refurbishment, the aim is to transform the space and displays to make the building more accessible for all.
This ambitious project will improve the People’s Palace and Winter Gardens’ environmental sustainability, creating a greener, world-class, local museum. It will protect an invaluable cultural and heritage asset for generations to come and put the East End of Glasgow on the tourist map.
The People’s Palace will close at 5pm on Sunday 14 April.
Peoples Palace
The Steamie display
The Single End display from the 1930s