You’ve got to hand it to Academy students
Exhibition celebrates city’s glove-making heritage
Pupils from a Perth school have had their work displayed at the Scottish Parliament.
An exhibition by pupils at Perth Academy, which celebrates the heritage of glove making in Perth, is currently on display in the members’ lobby at Holyrood.
The guild of glove makers first appeared in the 12th century, and the first recorded glove maker in the city was in 1165.
Pupils from the school’s first, second and third year were involved in creating the exhibition, which used mixed media and photography to tell the history of glove making.
The pupils involved and the academy’s rector Johnny Lothian visited the parliament on Tuesday, October 3 to see their completed project.
They were joined by both Alexander Stewart, Conservative MSP for Mid-Scotland and Fife, and John Swinney, SNP MSP for Perthshire North.
Mr Stewart said: “Perth Academy was in my ward during my 18 years in Perth and Kinross Council.
“I have always been a huge supporter of the school and this fantastic work that the pupils of Perth Academy have achieved through a sponsorship from the ancient Glovers Incorporation, has included the discovery that pioneers from Perth took their skills to the New World and were instrumental in creating an important industry in New York state at Gloversville NY.
“Guilds of glove makers first made their appearance in the 12th century and the first recorded instance of a glove maker in Perth was around 1165.
“Perth Academy’s S1, S2 and S3 were collectively involved in this superb work which showed a huge variety of styles using mixed media and photography, reflecting the piecing together of gloves by glovers who specialised in different areas of the trade.
“It was a great pleasure also to have met Perth Academy’s rector Johnny Lothian and some of the pupils in parliament today, who have been instrumental in taking this important Perth story forward for future generations.”
The pupils were also shown around the parliament by John Swinney, Perthshire North MSP.
He said: “It was a pleasure to welcome the pupils of Perth Academy to the Scottish Pupils from Perth Academy visited the Scottish Parliament and met with John Swinney MSP and first minister Nicola Sturgeon
Parliament.
“I was struck by the quality of their art and by how passionate they were in discussing their work.
“I commend both the pupils
and their teacher, Alison Ferguson, on the significant contribution they have to understanding this very important facet of Perth’s
economic development.
“It was great that the first minister was able to attend, and she was clearly impressed by both the exhibition and the knowledge of the pupils.”