Taking Glasgow to the next level

An international magazine dedicated to ‘Art, Photography and Ideas’ has chosen to theme an entire issue on Glasgow. Next Level magazine - which is based in London with international distribution - was founded seven years ago by photo artist, Sheyi Bankale, who wanted to “explore contemporary issues from a visual perspective”.

The magazine is unique in that it dedicates each issue to one subject, and works with a fresh team of designers, artists, writers and other contributors each time.

It is published twice a year, and besides being sold in good newsagents, major bookstores and gallery shops around the world, is distributed at key international art and photography fairs.

The Glasgow issue will debut at Frieze and Zoo art fairs in London from 12 - 15 October and will then feature at Paris Photo (15 – 18 November), Art Basel at Miami Beach (6 – 9 December), Palm Beach Contemporary Photography, Art + Design (11 – 14 January), Photo LA (10 – 13 January), Art LA (25 – 27 January) and ARCO International Contemporary Art Fair in Madrid (13 – 18 February).

And Editor, Sheyi Bankale, is confident that it will create quite a stir.

He said, “The Glasgow issue recognises work by the many contemporary artists and photo artists from Glasgow who demonstrate just how strong the scene is there.

“I visited Glasgow about 18 months ago and was able to sense in a matter of days the attraction the city holds for creative people, and the way the arts are being used to regenerate what was formerly a declining industrial centre.

“Glasgow’s creative explosion has produced one of the most exciting new identities to come out of Scotland.”

The 136 page Glasgow issue covers the significant contribution the Glasgow School of Art has made to world photography, a Q & A with Douglas Gordon on his acclaimed video installation ‘Zidane, a 21st Century Portrait’, and works by a range of internationally renowned artists who hail from Glasgow – 2005 Turner Prize winner, *Simon Starling, and 2003 Beck’s Futures prize-winner, *Rosalind Nashashibi, among them.

It also includes a 16-page feature on the Glasgow international Festival of Contemporary Visual Art (Gi), which returns to the city in its new biennial format from 11 - 27 April, 2008. Excitement about the festival is already growing, and Michael Bracewell’s words put Glasgow’s contemporary art scene into global perspective.

There are also some telling pieces by philanthropist Oliver Rothschild – accompanied by a stunning picture of Glasgow by Julio Brujis – Roanne Dods, the Vice-Chair of Scottish Ballet, and style commentator, John Davidson. As someone who had never visited Glasgow before, Rothschild provides all the insight of an ‘outsider’, saddled with negative perceptions that are then overturned in spectacular fashion.

Architecture critic, Johnny Rodger, joins the distinguished roster of writers, previewing a major retrospective of Gillespie, Kidd and Coia at The Lighthouse, Scotland’s National Centre for Architecture and Design from 3rd November – 10 February 2008.

Councillor Steven Purcell, Chair of Glasgow City Marketing Bureau and Leader of Glasgow City Council, commented, “The Glasgow dedicated issue of Next Level magazine makes a bold statement that Glasgow is an inspiring place with networks that make creative endeavour at the highest level not only possible but probable.

“It also serves to reinforce that Glasgow is an exciting and energising place to live, work, study, invest and visit.”

The Glasgow issue is on sale from good newsagents, major bookstores and selected gallery shops from Monday, 15 October until February 2008, with a cover price of £12.95.

It will also be taken to Sri Lanka to assist the final stages of Glasgow’s bid to stage the Commonwealth Games in 2014.

The Glasgow issue of Next Level has been supported by Glasgow: Scotland with style, the Scottish Government and Glasgow 2014.

Sheyi Bankale concluded, “The wealth of material in the Glasgow issue just wouldn’t have been conceived without the contribution of Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, the Scottish Government and a wide range of individuals whose intellectual will and passion for their subject is staggering.”

*although born in England, Simon Starling and Rosalind Nashashibi both studied at the Glasgow School of Art and work in Glasgow.

For more information on the city, visit Seeglasgow.com.