Traveler Magazine AHSpring2019 | Page 53

51 Glasgow Historically, Scotland is a country of kilts, smoky scotch and warbling bagpipes. But, the future of the country is bright—and no city provides as thorough a glimpse into the promises of Scotland’s tomorrow like Glasgow. Named a European Capital of Culture by the European Union in 1990, the city continues to hum as a hotbed of youthful energy. This energy more often than not manifests in a myriad of visual and performing arts: from the building-sized murals littered throughout the city to the riches of museums to peruse, it’s difficult to run out of things to admire in Glasgow. The Gallery of Modern Art should be at the top of your to-do list, with four galleries of ever-exciting exhibitions and hands-on workshops. A worthy follow-up to the GoMa is a visit to the Glasgow Print Studio. The informal backbone to Scotland’s artistic and cultural scene, the print studio is a long- established hub of creative energy. Between the exhibitions and galleries showcasing local and international artists, and the open access workshop offering printmaking classes, it’s all too easy to feel a part of the artistic community while visiting. Another gallery you can’t miss is the Sharmanka Kinetic Theatre. A scene unlike any you’ve encountered before, the theatre is comprised of hundreds of hand-carved figures, cogs, old scrap, ethereal music and haunting lights, all animated to perform the cyclical tales that comprise existence. It is not hyperbole to say there is little else like it in the world—making it a must-see of Glasgow. ANDREWHARPERTRAVEL.COM SPRING | 2019