Glaswegians: Cranhill Arts Project

In 1989, 22 people from Cranhill Arts and surrounding area became photographers, capturing nearly 40,000 portraits of fellow citizens by 1993. Photos were taken in black and white and colour across the city — at work, at school, young and old, carers and cared for, in pubs, clubs and on the streets. It has formed an unique insider portrait of Glasgow.
Now digitised through a community-led, National Lottery-funded project, this large-scale Platform exhibition marks the biggest showing of the Glaswegians photographs in 35 years.
Cranhill Arts Project started in 1981 by local people, and built up fantastic resources for photography, screen printing and then graphic design. Many Cranhill Arts Project users have gone on to work in the print, reprographic and media industries, especially as photographers of various kinds.
The exhibition is part of the Season of Photography 2026, a celebration of photography in Scotland running from 1st September – 20th December 2026.
All ages are welcome and the exhibition is free to attend.
Image: Glaswegians archive