Riverside Museum/Kelvingrove Art Gallery.
Got a two in one special today (tho' in reality the visits were a few days apart - yup it's already gone all timey wimey) but there's a really good (and fairly interesting) reason for that.
First up the relocated and custom built Riverside Museum, once known as the Transport Museum and housed at Kelvinhall the Riverside has been open for 7 years now and has over 3,000 objects on display there's everything from skateboards to steam trains, paintings to prams and cars to a Star Wars Stormtrooper.
Unfortunately Balamory babe Edie McCredie's bus is no longer on display.
A travesty I'm sure you'll agree.
Again this is another of those venues that we've always visited and realistically there's not much you can do to 'Autism-up' something like an art gallery or museum but at Riverside they seem to be going that extra mile.
All the staff have (or will be having) Autism training and are friendly and approachable and it was here that I was originally told about the visual guides available to download (and for those of you without printer access an added touch is that the Museum will print one for you if you get in touch).
And I have to say the Riverside Museum guide (which can be found here) is as close to perfect as you can get, it's consistent, succinctly written and very (user) friendly, the problems with the wording in the GoMA guide are nowhere to be found here, especially the way the exhibits are described as being fragile but in a positive way.
Another plus point is that the interactive displays are always working and although queuing for certain things (the virtual C-5 for one) it's always good to know you have sympathetic staff to cover your back if needed!
Another great venue doing great things.
Just bring that bus back.
Oh and a police box would be nice.
Even a red one.
Ta.
Onto Kelvingrove Art Gallery now and the reason that it doesn't get an 'official' entry, you see on our way there (I took the girls as extra reviewers) I phoned home to see if the Nation Library of Scotland (which in a bizarre bit of symmetry is now housed in the old transport museum building) was on the list only to be informed that it wasn't.
And neither was Kelvingrove.
Strange but true.
So I had to investigate, well I didn't but seeing as I was already there it seemed churlish not to.
Plus I'm actually really nosy.
 |
| A very blue-hued Riverside Museum, not to be confused with Riverside - the TV series broadcast on BBC2 that featured musicians, bands, actors, fashion designers, artists and comedians including Alice Cooper, Steve Strange, Clare Grogan, Paul Weller, Martin Fry, The Cure, The Smiths, New Order and Pauline Black. Phew, glad that's sorted. |
First up the relocated and custom built Riverside Museum, once known as the Transport Museum and housed at Kelvinhall the Riverside has been open for 7 years now and has over 3,000 objects on display there's everything from skateboards to steam trains, paintings to prams and cars to a Star Wars Stormtrooper.
Unfortunately Balamory babe Edie McCredie's bus is no longer on display.
A travesty I'm sure you'll agree.
 | |
| What's the story Balamory? Well You need a little time to wake up wake up Well What's the story Balamory? Well Need a little time to wake up wake up wake up in the yellow house. |
Again this is another of those venues that we've always visited and realistically there's not much you can do to 'Autism-up' something like an art gallery or museum but at Riverside they seem to be going that extra mile.
All the staff have (or will be having) Autism training and are friendly and approachable and it was here that I was originally told about the visual guides available to download (and for those of you without printer access an added touch is that the Museum will print one for you if you get in touch).
And I have to say the Riverside Museum guide (which can be found here) is as close to perfect as you can get, it's consistent, succinctly written and very (user) friendly, the problems with the wording in the GoMA guide are nowhere to be found here, especially the way the exhibits are described as being fragile but in a positive way.
 |
Another great venue doing great things.
Just bring that bus back.
Oh and a police box would be nice.
Even a red one.
Ta.
Onto Kelvingrove Art Gallery now and the reason that it doesn't get an 'official' entry, you see on our way there (I took the girls as extra reviewers) I phoned home to see if the Nation Library of Scotland (which in a bizarre bit of symmetry is now housed in the old transport museum building) was on the list only to be informed that it wasn't.
And neither was Kelvingrove.
Strange but true.
So I had to investigate, well I didn't but seeing as I was already there it seemed churlish not to.
 |
| If Bruce Wayne (or Mario Bava) were from Glasgow they'd live here. Tho' probably not together. |
It seems that although the venue sees itself as Autism friendly they didn't want to be listed under the Autism Aware banner until all of their staff had been trained.
Which is fair enough and really honest.
And the staff still took time out to answer my questions and talk about upcoming events and how they planned to make the museum more accessible.
Said it before but most places genuinely seem excited by the whole autism aware challenge which is really good to hear.
And the staff still took time out to answer my questions and talk about upcoming events and how they planned to make the museum more accessible.
Said it before but most places genuinely seem excited by the whole autism aware challenge which is really good to hear.
All in all still a great venue to visit tho' be aware that some younger or more sensitive kids may find it a little overwhelming to begin with - it took us about 3 years of visits to get them used to it starting with 20 minute trips around then into Kelvingrove park to chill out but it's worth it in the long run.
Just be aware that there are organ recitals every day at 1.30 PM and a (very) minor niggle in the fact that the last few times we've visited many of (our) kids favourite interactive exhibits always seem to be out of order.
Which I can assure you is slightly nearer to the truth than 'in the process of being upgraded'.
Basically fix the mummies bandages and the speech balloon machine and we'll not mention it again.
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