The Empire Exhibition of 1938 was a major international exposition held in Bellahouston Park, Glasgow. Its purpose was to showcase the achievements of the British Empire, promote trade, and strengthen imperial bonds. It attracted over 13 million visitors during its six-month duration, yet today there is so little evidence remaining that most Glaswegians are unaware of its existence. Whilst overshadowed by WW2, the Exhibition remains a significant historical event, providing insight into the cultural, economic, and political heritage of the British Empire.

The Glasgow School of Art has produced significant research into this event, including the production of a meticulously researched photo-real, 3D model of over 100 buildings and structures that comprised the Exhibition, video interviews, recollections of visitors, use by schoolchildren, and immersive experiences in game engines and VR.

We will showcase this research and, crucially, demonstrate the need to reassess narratives of the Exhibition from a post-colonial perspective. Whilst earlier research focussed on architectural achievements, we are now using mixed-methodologies, including narrative co-design, to highlight the (previously-erased) voices of marginalised peoples and investigate polyvocal narratives about Glasgow’s heritage.