The gathering space was co-designed by the communities of North Lanarkshire and is part of the Scotland-wide Remembering Together project, set up to create Covid-19 memorials in every local authority.
During creative workshops in 2022, people from across North Lanarkshire used art to explore their experiences of the pandemic. This guided the form of the Remembering Together installation; a gathering space allowing everyone to come together, something they missed during periods of lockdown and social distancing. The art panels at the back directly reflect the artworks people created in the workshops as well as some local landmarks.
A public consultation on the designs highlighted the importance of using steel for the art panels to reflect North Lanarkshire’s industrial heritage. The beach area of Strathclyde Country Park was chosen as the preferred location for the Gathering Space in the consultation. This park was one of the busiest outdoor spaces during the pandemic.
The Gathering Space is set in the park landscape where peaceful views encourage reflective remembrance. It is surrounded by trees, bulbs and wildflowers, planted by community groups from across North Lanarkshire.