DIY Music and Contemporary Art Spaces: Centre for Contemporary Arts, Transmission and the Art-Music Nexus in Glasgow

Abstract

ABSTRACT This article examines the relationship between contemporary art spaces and ‘Do-It-Yourself’ (DIY) music in Glasgow. It demonstrates the continuity and interconnectedness of DIY music and art practices by considering the transition of galleries from ‘white cubes’ to music venues and spaces for social interaction. Following a brief overview of Glasgow’s urban renewal and cultural regeneration, it traces the emergence of the Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA) and Transmission and provides an outline of their organisational structure and policies. It then explores ethnographically how they have facilitated the cross-pollination between DIY music and contemporary art after the 2008 financial crisis. Approaching art galleries as social spaces that provide a platform for DIY musicians invites a holistic understanding of the reciprocal relationship between DIY music and contemporary art institutions in Glasgow. Therefore, the article considers in turn how these spaces were influenced by the ethics of DIY music. The malleability of contemporary art spaces and their relationship to the DIY ethos demonstrate that cultural policies should aim to strengthen the existing grassroots communities that form the bedrock of the city’s cultural scenes. This necessitates a move beyond the labels ‘post-industrial’ and ‘creative city’, thus decoupling cultural activities from the discourse of urban competition and Glasgow’s economic goals.