Glaswegians are being asked to make a wish for the city as part of a new public project to encourage people to think creatively about the future of Glasgow. Glasgow2020, a year-long programme of public events, storytelling and cultural activities, is being run by Demos, the leading democratic think-tank.

The Glasgow2020 project will use the insights of Glaswegians living in the city and elsewhere to help create a new vision for Glasgow’s future. People are being encouraged to contribute over the course of the next year by attending public events, submitting their wishes for the city, and writing stories about their vision for Glasgow in 2020.

“The Glasgow2020 project will explore what the city’s story is today and where it might take the city and its people over the next 15 years,” say Gerry Hassan and Melissa Mean of Glasgow2020. “Many of the existing story lines about Glasgow are shaped by marketers and brand consultants. Instead, Glasgow2020 will seek to develop new stories and a new vision for Glasgow based on the everyday lives, aspirations and creativity of people who live and work in the city.”

“We will be encouraging people to think creatively about Glasgow’s future by contributing their views in a number of ways. Through the insights of ordinary Glaswegians, we’ll be addressing a variety of themes crucial to the city’s future, such as happiness and well-being, revitalising public spaces, and building relationships across the generations and between different cultures.”

People can contribute in all sorts of ways: by making a wish for the city, writing stories about the future of Glasgow, attending story telling workshops to be held throughout the course of the year, and devising and running their own projects.

As part of the project, Glaswegians are being asked to submit three wishes for Glasgow. Wishes can be submitted in a number of ways:

• By post: Submit your wishes by freepost to RLXT-KZSH-CUTR, Freepost, Glasgow 2020, Oyster Arts, 100 Beith Street, Glasgow, G11 6DQ.
• At libraries and other public buildings: Pick up and post one of the Glasgow2020 postcards.
• Online: Submit your wishes via the Glasgow 2020 website at www.glasgow2020.org.uk

The wishes will be collated and a public’s Top 10 wishes will be revealed at the end of the project in 2006. The project will culminate in an exhibition in Glasgow sharing the stories generated by the project, the publication of a book presenting the lessons for Glasgow and other cities through pictures and stories, and a permanent on-line archive.

People who are interested in getting involved in the project are encouraged to visit the Glasgow2020 website at www.glasgow2020.org.uk

Notes to editors

1. Glasgow 2020 is a project for mass imagination. Through a year-long programme of public events, storytelling and cultural activities, the project will seek to collect stories, wishes and a new vision of the future for the city. For more information, visit www.glasgow2020.org.uk 
2. Glasgow 2020 brings together a range of public, private and civic organisations, including: Scottish Enterprise Glasgow, Glasgow Housing Association, The Centre for Population Health, Glasgow City Council, Strathclyde Police, Strathclyde Fire and Rescue, Communities Scotland, Scottish Arts Council, VisitScotland, Scottish National Programme for Mental Health and Well-Being, Glasgow Caledonian University, Strathclyde University, Glasgow University, Glasgow School of Art, Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, First Scotrail and The Evening Times.
3. Gerry Hassan is a leading commentator and writer on Scottish politics. His previous publications include Scotland 2020: Hopeful Stories for a Northern Nation (Demos), The Political Guide to Modern Scotland (Politicos) and Anatomy of the New Scotland (Mainstream). Melissa Mean is a Senior Researcher at Demos and head of its research programme on the future of cities, Self Build Cities: Putting people first in urban renewal.
4. Demos is an independent think-tank that works with policy-makers inside and outside government, and has a reputation for identifying long-term social trends.