If you’re exploring Glasgow’s Merchant City for...

If you’re exploring Glasgow’s Merchant City for Doors Open Days Weekend, remember to have a look out for the Merchant City Soundscape, which tells the stories of Glasgow’s role in the Abolition of the slave trade.

The boxes are located throughout the area on a number of buildings that are open this weekend (15th - 16th September), including the Tobacco Merchants House. A map of all the site can be downloaded here: twitdoc.com/191J The sound installations draw on writings by Frederick Douglas - a freed slave, and also imagine the viewpoints of the city merchants, slaves and abolitionists. Each of the buildings and sites where the soundscapes are located were built with wealth generated by forced labour or associated with abolitionism. The seven pieces were written by Louise Welsh.

If you fancy brushing up on your history before visiting the sites, all the recordings have now been uploaded to our vimeo page https://vimeo.com/collectivearchitecture/videos

The project was set up as part of the Merchant City Public Art Programme, The project was commissioned by Glasgow City Council and has been recorded with the help of professional actors, and students from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Technical design and installation was carried out by sound and light company Northern Light.