New community film brings together generations, cultures and stories from across Garnethill
Glasgow 2026 Festival project culminates in public screening of Meet Me at the Centre
- Community-made film celebrates the voices, memories and creativity of Garnethill residents
- Participants aged from primary school children to older residents have shaped every aspect of the production
A new community film bringing together children, older residents and people from diverse cultural backgrounds across Glasgow will receive its premiere this August as part of Glasgow 2026 Festival presented with Glasgow Life.
Created through a series of workshops at Garnethill Multicultural Centre (GMC), Meet Me at the Centre captures stories, memories and everyday experiences from people connected to one of Glasgow's most diverse and welcoming community spaces.
Led by artists Connie Woods and Laurie Knott, the project has involved members of the Centre's seniors' group, local children and participants from GMC's popular Conversation Café. Together they have learned filmmaking, animation, scriptwriting, prop-making, recording and performance techniques, with participants shaping every stage of the creative process.
The resulting film reflects on Glasgow as a shared home, exploring themes including memory, identity, friendship, migration, food, community and belonging.
Connie Woods said: "Filmmaking offered a way for people with different interests, abilities and experiences to contribute their own ideas and creativity. Every group brought something unique. The children were colourful and experimental, the seniors shared memories and local knowledge, and the Conversation Café participants brought stories, cultures and perspectives from across Glasgow and beyond.
"Because Garnethill Multicultural Centre has been part of the community for so many years, there are countless memories connected to the building and the people who come through its doors. We wanted the film to celebrate those connections and the fact that everyone is welcome here."
Throughout the workshops, participants explored creative prompts including writing letters to their younger and future selves, sharing favourite recipes and family traditions, recording stories about places they have lived, and reflecting on what matters most to them.
One particularly memorable activity invited participants to pin their countries of origin and former homes onto a large world map, creating conversations and connections across generations and cultures.
The project has emphasised collaboration and participant ownership, ensuring contributors have been involved not only in telling stories but in deciding how those stories are represented on screen.
Connie Woods added: "We wanted people to be artists rather than simply participants. The film has been shaped by the people who came to the workshops and by the stories they wanted to share. Whether that was creating props for a fictional dinner party, filming on their own phones, sharing memories of Glasgow or talking about their culture and interests, everyone has had agency in the creative process."
The title Meet Me at the Centre references Garnethill Multicultural Centre itself, which acts as a meeting point between different communities, generations and experiences.
Audiences attending the screening can expect what Woods describes as "an experimental, eclectic and honest film" that reflects Glasgow's diversity and the care and creativity of those involved in making it.
Following the screening, audiences are invited to join a community celebration at Garnethill Multicultural Centre featuring food, artwork displays and opportunities to meet participants and project collaborators.
Reflecting on the impact of the project, Woods said: "I hope people feel proud when they see their own contribution become part of something bigger. The film shows the threads that connect us all, with GMC as the place where those threads cross. Every participant is an essential part of this film, and I hope the screening sparks conversations, confidence and perhaps even some new friendships."
The screening forms part of Glasgow 2026 Festival's programme of community-led projects celebrating creativity, participation and connection across the city, supported by Glasgow Life.
Event Information
Meet Me at the Centre - Community Film Screening
Artists: Connie Woods and Laurie Knott
Venue: Garnethill Multicultural Centre, Glasgow
Date: August 2026
Admission: Free
For further event information visit Garnethill Multicultural Centre and Glasgow Life event listings.