A look back at 2025’s Take Me Somewhere Festival
Take Me Somewhere 2025 took place 15–26 October across Glasgow. We baked bread, got wet and wild, were tucked into bed, marvelled at suspended wrestlers, made public vows, sat in church pews and ate so much cake.
Read on for a look at our evaluation report, which captures data and testimonies from our artists and audiences.
Showing up
We presented 20 performances and events across 12 venues, welcoming over 18,000 audience members into intimate encounters, large-scale installations.
With an 86% average attendance rate, nine sell-out shows and a 14% increase in ticketed audiences since 2023, the festival demonstrated a growing appetite for experimental live work in Glasgow.
Open to All
From artist concession passes to free companion tickets and community partnerships, the festival actively worked to remove financial and social barriers to participation.
Scottish Ambition
The festival premiered new work by Scottish artists and supported them to scale up ambition, experiment boldly and pitch ideas to international delegates, with 100% reporting feeling supported to take creative risks.
International Voices
Artists from 12 countries presented work alongside Scottish peers, turning Glasgow into a meeting point between local stories and global perspectives and strengthening Scotland’s international cultural reputation.
Art in Public Space
Paul Ramírez Jonas’ Public Trust transformed Royal Exchange Square into a place of reflection and collective promise-making, demonstrating how art can intervene meaningfully in everyday civic life.
Artist Experience
141 creatives took part in the festival, with artists reporting exceptionally high satisfaction across pay, access, visibility and professional development, some citing Take Me Somewhere as a career-shaping experience.
Accessibility
Access was not an add-on but embedded into the artistic fabric of the festivalL from BSL interpretation and audio description to relaxed performances and touch tours.
Press
The festival received widespread press coverage across national and international outlets, with five-star reviews in praise of works’ boldness, care and impact.
