Three interviews with cultural organisations operating at the areas of the river Clyde took place in December 2019 and February 2020. The interviews followed the study’s objectives, to examine participation with heritage assets in the locality of the river Clyde. Two interviews took place at the Clyde Maritime Trust, and one at GalGael.
The organisations
Clyde Maritime Trust (CMT) is the organisation responsible for the rescue, restoration and preservation of Glenlee, the Tall Ship at Riverside. The S.V. Glenlee is a three masted steel vessel, built in Port Glasgow in 1896. It is now moored in front of the Riverside Museum and it is a museum ship. The organisation’s boat-building workshop and offices are housed at the building of the Riverside museum, and Glasgow Life (the cultural wingof Glasgow City council) helps with some running costs of the organisation. GalGael is a cultural community organisation based in Govan. They maintain a wood-workshop where they train members of the local community to overcome issues related to hardship through crafts. The workshop is used for boat-building and the boats are taken on the river Clyde by the local community.
The interviewer
One of the participants in the case study, from the boat building activity in Kirkintilloch, took the role of the interviewer. I trained them in basic interview techniques and we devised open ended questions for the interviewees.
I observed the interviews by being present when they were conducted and I took notes from the interactions of the interviewees and the interviewer.
Photograph: Training in interviewing techniques on board the Tall Ship at Riverside, and preparation of the questions. Credit: Author's own.
Interview no 1 & 2: Clyde Maritime Trust
Photograph: This is an aerial photograph from the Clyde Maritime Trust (CMT) photo archive. It shows the Glenlee, the Riverside Museum, and the Riverside space at the north bank of the river Clyde. The Trust is an independent charity and an accredited museum dedicated to restore, preserve and protect The Tall Ship at the Riverside (Glenlee), a historic vessel built in Glasgow in 1896. The CMT's offices and boat-building workshop are located inside the Riverside Museum building. Credit: Clyde Maritime Trust
The first interviewee was one of the long term volunteers who attends the organisation’s workshop every week. An ex-engineer, they contribute their expertise, along with the other volunteers, in the restoration and preservation of the Tall Ship. The interview aimed to examine the volunteer’s understanding of their position in the organisation, their sense of ownership and belonging in the organisation, and feelings of empowerment through engagement with the museum-ship.
Photographs: Form left to right: Interview 1 was with a volunteer from the CMT who is responsible for some of the engineering wor as part of the maintenance and the on-going restoration. Interview 2 was with the CMT workshop's manager, who is responsible in organizing boat building projects and the maintenance of the ship. Credit: Author's own.
The second interviewee was with the organisation’s workshop leader. The CMT’s workshop is important for the Trust, as it serves the restoration and it is a boat building workshop, hosting community based boat building projects.
Photograph: The CMT boat building workshop.Credit: Author's own.
Interview No 3: GalGael
The third interview took place at GalGael. GalGael is a community focused organisation in Govan that supports community members who face social difficulties. GalGael utilises the wood and boat building workshop, to empower members of the locality through heritage engagement.
Photograph: Image from the Assembly room at GalGael. Credit: Author's own.
The interview focused on the work of the organisation in participation through boat building and boat handling, and their effect on individuals and groups, towards the locality.
The interviewee was an Officer who had started as a volunteer and an activist in the early days of the organisation. They were also a person with living memory of the ship building era of the river Clyde.
Photograph:Interviewing an Officer from GalGael. Credit: Author's own.
I and the interviewer made contact with the organisation about the interview a few weeks before. We were invited to join their workshop and their events and Assembly. We also participated in the community meal where all visitors share the same food together inside the workshop. Visitors are encouraged to make an object, sing a song, tell a story or a poem and give ideas on community action or share community news.
Photographs: From top down: preparing the wood to make a candle-holder in GalGael's wood workshop . Event night in GalGael's workshop. Credits: CanalCraft Participant; Author's own.
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