College Welcomes "Make it Glasgow" Artists for Unique ESOL Student Project

Last week, the College’s Advanced ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) class had an inspiring visit from "Make it Glasgow," a local art collective dedicated to community-centred creative projects. Led by ESOL lecturer Stewart Fraser, the class welcomed the team to explore the connection between art, culture, and community as they worked on a special project called Bella the Beithir.

This ambitious public art installation situated near Stockingfield Bridge, is a striking sculpture that celebrates Glasgow’s diverse voices through individual clay pieces crafted by community groups and arts enthusiasts across the city.

For this project, each ESOL student in the class designed a personal clay tile that will become part of Bella the Beithir’s “scales” – a textured, mosaic-like collection that symbolises the unity of Glasgow’s diverse communities. These handmade clay tiles will join others from local artists and groups to complete the sculpture, creating a beautiful and permanent tapestry of shared stories and cultural expression. ESOL Lecturer Stewart Fraser reflected:

“The workshop from Make it Glasgow was an excellent way for us to build teamworking skills as a class, while allowing us to do something different from the norm for a class. It was great to see everyone in the class engage so well together and show their creativity in individual tiles and mosaics which will become part of a permanent sculpture here in Glasgow.”

The day was alive with hands-on creativity as students shaped clay tiles that reflected their cultural identities and personal stories. The interactive session encouraged them to express their backgrounds through art, using clay as a medium for storytelling. Students were thrilled by the chance to make a lasting contribution to Glasgow in a project that fosters both community pride and inclusivity:

“This is an amazing opportunity to be part of an exciting project that will become part of Scotland's history,” shared one student. Another added, “It was a great experience—very interesting and informative.”

This experience was an artistic exploration that made a lasting mark in a city they now call home. The College looks forward to visiting the completed sculpture, knowing it holds pieces created by students who have added their voices, stories, and dreams to this incredible public artwork.