'Broken promises': Exhibition examines Glasgow 2014's Games legacy on Dalmarnock

A WOMAN stands amid the rubble of her former home – a man stares in the window of an empty community centre – a swathe of derelict land awaits development.

The photographs which make up Beyond the Games, a new exhibition which looks at the legacy of the 2014 Commonwealth Games on Dalmarnock, paint a fascinating, moving and often haunting picture of the East End community 10 years on.

This is the culmination of arts charity Strange Field’s six-month long residency with photographer Chris Leslie.

Since January this year, the project has revisited the work and people Chris engaged with between 2007 and 2014 to document the story of Dalmarnock and impact of the Games on local residents, buildings and the wider community.

Councillor George Redmond (Image: Chris Leslie)

In 2007, Chris began a multimedia project, Disappearing Glasgow, to document the changes he saw as a local resident and the impact it was having on the lives of his community.

As part of the project, he spoke to people who live and work in the area, and the stories he collected will be presented at Strange Field’s French Street venue between July 5 and 28.

In one of the photographs, Dalmarnock resident and community activist David Stewart, who campaigned for the new Legacy Hub Community Centre, looks through the windows of the empty building.

David Stewart looks through the windows of the now-closed legacy hub (Image: Chris Leslie)

The flagship building opened in 2015 but then closed after the owners – the People’s Development Trust - went into administration in 2019.

In another image from June 2011, Margaret Jaconelli stands outside the remains of her home.

A few months earlier, explains Chris, she and her family were evicted by more than 90 police and sheriff officers who had served a compulsory purchase order on her home as part of the development for the Athletes Village.

Ruby Hunter (Image: Chris Leslie)

Ruby Hunter is pictured outside the entrance to her close on Connal Street.  She says community spirit in Dalmarnock has disappeared and is angry about what she calls the “broken promises” made to long term residents.

Tony McDermott in 2008 (Image: Chris Leslie)

Tony McDermott, pictured in April 2008 as development for the Games begins, stands in the concrete rubble of the demolished high rise flats, offering a souvenir piece of “Dalmarnock rock”. He claims the land is now “worth a fortune.”

Tony, now 30, was photographed again by Chris earlier this year. He took up a place on a trainee employment scheme as part of the Games investment, first working in a leisure centre, and today, he is a prison officer.

Another image shows local councillor George Redmond in August 2008 at the corner of Ardenlea Street, where he was brought up as a young boy.

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The Commonwealth Games developments are about to begin and George tells Chris it is “a time of excitement and rebirth in Dalmarnock.”

He adds: “The people have waited for more than 30 years for this.”

Sixteen years later, he tells Chris there is still much work to do in Dalmarnock, emphasising that a community is “more than just new housing.”

Baltic Street playground (Image: Chris Leslie)

Another image shows Dalmarnock’s young people at the Baltic Street Adventure Playground, set up as a temporary park just before the Games.

Twelve years later it still runs as an outdoor adventure playground but also serves as a community hub with a nursery and food pantry.

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Chris said: “The Dalmarnock I photographed more than 16 years ago is almost unrecognizable today.

“The area's physical transformation has been comprehensive and is clearly visible to everyone. However, the lingering question has always concerned the legacy of the Games and its true impact on the residents of Dalmarnock."

He adds: “This exhibition aims to provide a platform for the residents to voice their thoughts on the legacy and to explore what the next 10 years might hold.”

Beyond The Games -  a photographic journey by Chris Leslie runs from July 5 to 28 at Strange Field in Dalmarnock.