Under the Rug (re)Launch: in pictures
On Saturday 19 September, Under the Rug unveiled our new free magazine dedicated to Glasgow’s creatives & communities, and celebrated a new era for Under the Rug. Here, we’re looking at the night through photographs as we get ready to start our autumn/winter programme this October!
On a cold night in Glasgow, creatives from across the city gathered at The Savings Bank to warmly welcome the new Under the Rug as we launched our free community & arts magazine – The Rug.
What’s been brewing since March 2025 has finally come to fruition with our transition from Under the Rug Theatre to Under the Rug CIC – a new community-focused company taking almost five years of grassroots work in Scotland into a new chapter for Glasgow’s creatives and communities.
The (re)Launch event wasn’t just about introducing our magazine – it was the beginning of a promise we’re making to Glasgow. A promise that we will continue supporting our local communities & creatives by building a new sustainable way for us to connect, collaborate, and tell our stories.
The night featured an incredible lineup of music, performance, talks, and games, all hosted by the brilliant Mahri Reilly – someone we’ve been lucky to know since 2021 and genuinely wouldn’t have made it this far without. We were treated to drag from Shego Sinner, live music from Marianne McGregor, a raffle, and a valiant attempt at bingo – though anyone there will know that while our creative talents are many, designing a functioning bingo card isn’t one of them!
We also heard talks from Mikael Lee Donaldson on the creation of Under the Rug and stepping into our new chapter, artistic producer Alex Paton on our upcoming programme of events, and Joseph Madders on our dedication to supporting Glasgow’s grassroots and emerging creatives through the Under the Rug Hub and beyond.
At the event, we also officially launched our Under the Rug Membership. This first issue of The Rug was largely funded by donations and independent contributions from our team, but our membership model helps us make our magazine & hub sustainable for the long haul.
Inspired by community-owned co-ops like The Bristol Cable, becoming a member means you aren't just reading the magazine – you have a real say in it. Member support covers printing and distribution costs to keep The Rug completely free across the city, ensures we can pay local writers and artists fairly, and gives you a vote on upcoming issue themes, story ideas, and the direction of our future programmes.
So if you want to be part of shaping independent, grassroots media in Glasgow – and help keep The Rug free and sustainable for everyone – click the link below to become a member:
Photos by Tom Dwyer
Become an Under the Rug member!
