Ward 18, Phase 1, YOUR TEXT HERE
Keep dancing to the music while you can, ‘cause you don’t know when it could stop.
As part of Glasgow Life’s Creative Communities Artists in Residence programme for Ward 18, East Centre, artist and poet Skye Loneragan delivered YOUR TEXT HERE, a playful and poetic exploration of waiting, chance encounters, and everyday moments.
Wearing a high-visibility ‘POET’ vest, Skye took to the streets by bike, making herself visible and building connections in unexpected places. Skye focused on ‘waiting spaces’ (bus stops, clinics, parks), where she invited residents to pause, reflect, and respond. Skye’s presence sparked curiosity and created opportunities for engagement on people’s own terms.
During the project, Skye installed poetry road signs in Cranhill Park, left poetry gifts marked FOR YOU, handed out counter number tickets, and encouraged replies through tweets, interviews, wood-etched verses, emails, and a poetry letterbox. Using humour to invite participation, one workshop featured a Pilates ball paired with a sign labelled LET ME BOUNCE IDEAS OFF YOU.
Engaging with all community members, from school pupils to veterans and visitors to HMP Barlinnie, Skye used poetry, voice, and performance to transform overlooked public spaces into places of exchange, imagination, and shared stories.
A special thanks to community partners, supporters and contributors: The Golden Generation (65yrs+) | Youth group at Cranhill CC with Quarriers (8-14yrs) | St Thomas’ Primary School at Riddrie Library (8-10yrs) | Youth Group at The Cranhill Dev Trust (11-17yrs) | Riddrie Knitters group at Riddrie Library (45yrs+) | Glasgow Girls FC, Budhill Park | The Write to Recovery group through Recovery Café | Staff working in local organisations or community centres | Teenagers waiting for the bus on Edinburgh Road, Cranhill | Parents & Children waiting to visit family at HMP Barlinnie, The Croft | Parents & children waiting for a meal at the Family Programme (holiday provision), Cranhill | Scottish Veterans Association (through their resident artist, Allen Clarke and his colleagues) | ‘New’ Scots (Refugee Festival Scotland) & the ESOL classes at Cranhill Development Trust.
