7”.“ Kelvingrove Art v-/ GaHer and Museum (~
vd- v..p\-.u—"
The numbers are undoubtedly impressive. £35m spent on refurbishment; 5000. new exhibits, making 8000 altogether; fourth most visited museum in Britain. In the six months since it reopened, Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum attracted 1.8m visitors to Edinburgh Castle’s paltry annual 1.2m. However, reducing Glasgow’s Favourite Building down to a series of press-release friendly statistics rather misses the point.
From the outside, the towering, floodlight ramparts, reminiscent of a fairytale castle, inspire nothing short of gawping wonder, while inside an exciting jumble of curios, organised loosely into sprawling ‘stories’ allow for chaotically free roaming and accidental discovery. Information is non-didactic and accessible, whether you want to know about the development of the steam engine or Glasgow’s deep- rooted love of country and western, experience the Dalziel and Scullion installation or visit Sir Roger the African elephant. Kelvingrove continues to mine affection from its visitors because it makes children of all of us again. (Kl)
Michael Clark (-)
CHORIOORAPHIR Clark, the bad boy of ballet. may have grown up. and mended his drug abusing ways. but man he still knows how to choreograph. Clark's stunning double-bill 'O' and 'O()'. played to a packed Tramway this year. and reminded us all just how powerful modern dance can be. (KA)
26 THE LIST M [)(?(2 your; A Jan Poor
Frankie Boyle (58) b COMEOIAN The brilliantly titled Voice of Black America was Boyle's inaugural full I ringe run and proved that he is performing at the peak of his stand-up powers while his telly work continued unabated as he turned up to Mock the Week. And that pink suit was a sight to behold. (BD)
Martin Compston H
V FILM ACTOR After being stranded in TV soaps for the last five years. Compston re emerged in fine form as a kindly Celtic supporter in railway triptych film Tickets. Since then there has been no stopping him. He was by far the best thing in the Scottish werewolf flick Wild Country. was superb in Red Road and his performances in two soon to be released films A Giride to Recognismg
the Saints and True North ~ are excellent. A star is on the rise. (PD)
Stéphane Deneve
(29) V CONDUCTOR In his second season as RSNO Music Director. conductor Stopliane Deneve continues to make a startling impact on c!assical music in Scotland and abroad. llis programming dream of the musical equivalent of a large. colourful bouquet of flowers is going to be a Vital strand in setting the orchestra's Q 1 st century agenda. iCMl
Ian Rankin (-) b AUTHOR
If it's true that Rankin is currently writing
his final Rebus. then this year's Naming of the Heart Will be a fitting penultimate piece. set amid the Gleneagles (‘28 and a suicide at I. dinbuigh Castle. Rankin also found time to pen words for the Douglas (Jordon exhibition catalogue and appear in a pop video dressed as Vettriano's singing butler. (BU)
Ashley Page (-)
b ARTISTIC OIRECTOR/ CHOREOORAPHER Things were already going well for Page. since his re invention of Scottish Ballet three years ago. But in 2006 his achievements skyrocketed yet further. with the company's return to the London stage after seven years. a triumphant appearance at the Edinburgh International Festival and a cheeky wee mention on the Queen's birthday Honours List. (KAI
Snow Patrol (67)
OLOBE-STRADDLINO ROCK COLOSSUS Watching Snow Patrol batter through a free show at Slea/y's as part of Triptych several years ago there was a sense that they had missed their chance and were a spent force. Now. with the biggest selling British album of 2006 under their belt. that seems like a very long time ago. Like Pulp before them. they are proof that persistmice can pay oft. Eyes Open manages to sate the mainstream's need for post—‘Run‘
anthemics but remains true to Gary I ightbody's truly romantic musical vision. (MR)
Optima (26)
CLUB/OJ! Iwitch 8. Wilkes are still a vital part of Scottish club culture. remaining at the cutting edge over all these years (nine and counting). Aside from their consistently open minded take on [)Jing. this year has really seen them consolidate their place on the international stage. and as a reSuIt they have continued to be our best Scottish clubbing. (HN)
Ben Harrison and
Judith Doherty 0 ARTISTIC OlRlCTORI. GRID IRON These two are at the beating heart of Scotland's most innovative Site specific company. For Roam alone. their clever. innovative and intelligently political drama following the fortunes of a group of refugees staged at Edinburgh Airport. they deserve to figure high up in this list. After a decade of high quality work. that included such notables as Gar‘gantua. Fermentation and The Devil's Lar'der they have finally been rewarded by support from both the NTS and the SAC. (SC)