Key Facts
City Twinning
The Town Twinning Movement started in Europe after the Second World War. The initial objective of the movement was to increase mutual understanding between cities and countries, and to promote respect and tolerance between different cultures. Glasgow now has 8 twin cities, the most recent additions being Marseilles and Lahore in 2006 and Bethlehem in 2007.
Nuremberg, Germany (1985)
Glasgow and Nuremberg have always enjoyed a very active relationship. Projects covered music, sport, dance and adult education. One of the highlights of 2008 was the participation of the Lienas Choir from Nuremberg in the West End Festival. The Choir performed at a number of venues in the city and were very warmly received.
Nuremberg also welcomed the Glasgow composer, John Maxwell Geddes in May 2008 to perform a number of his compositions in St.Martha Kirche. In January 2009, DJ Twitch performed to a captive audience at the Musikverein - a popular music venue in Nuremberg.
Projects in 2009 will cover music, photography, dance, literature and fashion. Some of the highlights include an exchange between fashion students from North Glasgow College and the Berufschule 5 in Nuremberg. The exchange will culminate in a joint fashion show at the Nuremberg Burns Supper in January 2010.
Photography students will also have the opportunity to exchange ideas and experiences when Glasgow plays host to a group of amateur photographers from Nuremberg who will study alongside students from Glasgow’s Metropolitan College.
Rostov-on-Don, Russia (1986)
The city of Rostov-on-Don and Glasgow have enjoyed an active and healthy twinning partnership for many years. In September 2007, the Lord Provost of Glasgow and the Mayor of Rostov-on-Don both signed a Memorandum of Agreement to refresh the original twinning agreement and re-focus on current issues of major concern to both cities.
In 2008, a gymnastics project began between the Glasgow School of Sport and Rostov’s Olympic Reserve School No 2. The Olympic Reserve School is famous throughout Russia and has had a number of Olympic gold medal winners. Young gymnasts and their coaches from Rostov visited Glasgow and revealed the training techniques they use. In turn, Glasgow’s young gymnasts visited Rostov in October. Both schools aim to continue the exchange project with Glasgow visiting Rostov again in 2009.
Another major European funded project began in 2009 between Glasgow’s Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (RSAMD) and Rostov’s Rachmaninoff Conservatoire. The main activities will be staging operatic productions in Rostov and Glasgow and also collaborating with traditional music and Jazz.
Rostov has invited Cara McKinnon Crawford, an internationally known artist, to visit the city as Artist in Residence this summer 2009. Cara has already completed a series of paintings of the Clyde which forms a unique collection of images of Glasgow’s river from its source to the sea. Cara’s intention is to do the same with Rostov’s River Don. The result should culminate in an exhibition of paintings based around the rivers of the two twin cities.
Stow College and the West of Scotland University have also been actively involved in student exchanges with Rostov’s Construction University.
Dalian, China (1997)
The Lord Provost led a delegation to Dalian in 2008 which focussed primarily on sport and education. During the visit, Council staff met with District sports staff and coaches to discuss a possible exchange of skills and expertise with the Glasgow School of Sports (GSOS), including, bringing senior badminton coaches from Dalian to Glasgow to work with staff and pupils at the GSOS.
Discussions are currently underway to link Dalian’s No. 16 Middle School with a Glasgow high school to raise cultural awareness of China and to encourage more pupils to learn Chinese.
Havana, Cuba (2002)
Havana is the capital city of Cuba and the largest city in the Caribbean. Glasgow twinned with Havana in November 2002. Two film makers (Ross Birrell and David Harding) were recently given a grant from the twinning budget towards a project called Guantanamera. The film was shot on location in Havana and Miami and will premier in Glasgow later in 2009 to mark the 50th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution. Further cultural links are being investigated.
Turin, Italy (2003)
Links with Turin were established in the early 1980’s but the official twinning agreement was not signed until 2003. There have been a number of successful cultural and urban development projects since the formal twinning began. Senior officers from Turin’s housing, regeneration and arts sectors enjoyed a series of visits and presentations setting out Glasgow’s policy achievements in these areas. A student from Turin’s Talents Master Programme also spent time in Glasgow on placements within Culture & Sport Glasgow, Glasgow Housing Association and Development & Regeneration Services.
In July 2008 a sponsored cycle in aid of Cystic Fibrosis took place. The route from Glasgow to Turin took in Scotland, Belgium, France, Switzerland and Italy and crossed the Alps over the 2469m St Bernard's pass.
Marseilles, France (2006)
The twinning agreement (2006) encouraged the exchange of information on education, urban and riverside regeneration issues, and business and culture. There has been a number of mainly cultural exchanges in 2006 including: Femmes et La Ville (Women and the City). This group of French historians visited Glasgow last October to participate in the conference “Women in French in Scotland – Wifis” and also took part in lectures. Jean Guillon, a storyteller from Marseilles took part in the 2008 Inspirations Festival (arts festival for children and young people).
YDance the National Dance Agency for young people in Scotland formed a partnership with ADDAP 13 (Marseilles based dance group). They spent a week in each city sharing ideas on hip hop and dance. The idea behind the exchange was to investigate how participation in dance can help change young lives.
Lahore, Pakistan (2006)
Twinning took place in 2006. This twin city relationship has been enthusiastically welcomed by Glasgow’s minority ethnic community of Pakistani origin. A number of trade missions have taken place. These have been supplemented in Glasgow by a visit by her Excellency the Pakistan High Commissioner and an associated business seminar.
Bethlehem, Palestine (2007)
Glasgow and Bethlehem signed a friendship agreement in 1990 with town twinning being established in 2007. The Council recognises the special circumstances prevailing in Bethlehem and offers support and solidarity.
Projects
Commonwealth and International Development
This area of work reflects the Council’s new emphasis on the Commonwealth and builds on established links, for example, those with Malawi and with South Africa. It relates directly to the Commonwealth Games, and the declared intention of Glasgow to contribute to development goals as part of its commitment as Host City.
South Africa
Glasgow formalised its technical partnership with Amathole District Municipality on the Eastern Cape, South Africa in November 2007. This was the culmination of a two year project, funded through the Commonwealth Local Government Good Practice Scheme. Officers from Glasgow City Council worked with colleagues from Amathole to assist in the establishment and strengthening of Amathole’s Local Economic Development Agency and their Urban Renewal Programme.
The project drew on the skills and expertise of both partners to find sustainable solutions to local problems aiming to impact on other councils in South Africa facing similar situations. Between 2005 and 2007, there were a number of visits between Amathole and Glasgow involving work shadowing, presentations and site visits to relevant organisations.
Discussions are underway to develop cooperation, with Glasgow working with
Buffalo City Municipality and Amathole District Municipality
Malawi
Glasgow City Council has been working with Malawi since 2004. In September 2008, a team from the Council spent two weeks in Malawi undertaking a number of projects. These included:
- Building a prosthetics and orthotics clinic and workshop in Kamuzu General Hospital. The work was undertaken in partnership with the charity 500 Miles and with the agreement of the Malawian Ministry of Health
- Installing IT equipment in the Stella Maris School in Blantyre (a school for AIDS orphans)
- Delivering IT training to teaching staff in Blantyre
- Installing IT equipment in schools identified by the Ministry of Education in Lilongwe and delivering training
- Working with colleagues in Lilongwe City Assembly to assist them to improve their Cleansing service. Glasgow previously donated two refuse collection vehicles and wheeled bins to assist with this project.
Developing Market Potential
The Council’s Business Support initiative delivers a range of advice, information, funding and training assistance to allow businesses to achieve their market potential. The main aim of the initiative is to act as a driver, to encourage more of the City’s businesses to become more competitive and sustainable employers of local people. The market ready programme will aid businesses to market locally, nationally and internationally.
The Council will continue to support local firms who are interested in attending events within the EU and will develop effective partnerships with Business Club Scotland and the Chamber of Commerce to support missions to China, India, USA and other emerging markets.
Useful Links
For more information on international links go to: Lord Provost and International Office