Nelson Mandela Scottish Memorial Foundation

The clay model created by sculptor Alan Herriot is now complete and moved on to Powderhall Foundry for work on the final bronze version, which will take some months. Alan Herriot is a fantastic sculptor, who has worked at great speed to produce an amazing tribute to Mandela.

Concrete foundations have now been laid at the site in Nelson Mandela Place of the coming statue of Nelson Mandela, ready for the installation of the plinth and the statue itself in due course. The pavement has been relaid on top, to await October. See mandelascottishmemorial.org/nelson-mandela…

The latest update on progress with the Mandela statue in Glasgow is now on the NMSMF website. Alan Herriot has been working at speed on the clay model, and this will move on to Powderhall foundry within days for casting. Oct. 9th is the unveiling target. mandelascottishmemorial.org/nelson-mandela…

Our statue in Mandela Place, Glasgow, where we celebrated that night in 1990, will serve to honour his memory and his lessons for all who value social and racial justice. Material is now used in schools, and much more will be linked to the statue itself. bit.ly/NMSMFdon

Crowds celebrated that night in Nelson Mandela Place, Glasgow. The contract is now signed for Alan Herriot to produce a statue of Mandela in that same Place. He is hard at work on the clay, and casting in bronze will be complete for unveiling in October. bit.ly/NMSMFdon

@DrAlakbarov @MurphyNiallGLA Unveiling planned to be on 9th October, 2026, all going well. That will be 33 years since Mandela's visit to Glasgow to accept the Freedom of the city and of eight other UK local authorities.

@MurphyNiallGLA @mandelasmf When is opening of the statue?

If you are in Glasgow city centre and you have time why not head into Glasgow City Chambers and take part in the Nelson Mandela Memorial Public Consultation which is on until tomorrow? There is a shortlist of five sculptors to choose from for this major new statue which will be located in Glasgow’s Nelson Mandela Place (see below for an aerial view of the site) The sculptors include Paul Ferriter, Hector Guest, Alan Beattie Herriot, Kenny Hunter and David J Mitchell and each has a maquette on display in the entrance hall of the City Chambers. My favourites (see below) are Alan Beattie Herriot’s proposal for his use of one of Mandela’s signature Madiba shirts and because in human terms I think this is the most relatable proposal. However, I also think Kenny Hunter’s huge head of Mandela would be very striking and would make a real visual impact at the Nelson Mandela Place site. Nevertheless, in terms of the selection of the memorial it’s the first three consultation questions which are key: 1 Overall Impression: How well does this proposed statue achieve the objectives above marking Mandela, his life and legacy? 2 Visual Impact: Do you think this statue is an inspiring focal point and makes a clear positive impact within the proposed city centre space? 3 Mandela the Man: Does this design succeed in encapsulating Mandela’s exceptional personal qualities such as strength, indominable spirit, leadership, compassion, intelligence? The fourth and final question is about Education & Information:  How important is it to have access to further information about Mandela at the site? This might be historic or about current and future educational programmes and/or events. Why not go along and see the maquettes and make your choice?

Sculptor Alan B Herriot selected to create the statue of Nelson Mandela in Nelson Mandela Place, Glasgow.A public consultation on 5 shortlisted designs led to much interest and over 500 detailed responses. Target date 9 Oct. 2026. See mandelascottishmemorial.org/nelson-mandela… Donations welcome too

@MurphyNiallGLA If you aren't able to get to the Chambers before 4pm on Fri. 14th, see an online version of the display and of the comments form at bit.ly/NMstatuesurvey until 1pm on Mon. 17th. A short walk round the display is at bit.ly/maquettewalk

A short video of a walk round the Mandela maquettes in Glasgow at bit.ly/maquettewalk gives a good view and brief account of each of the five works. The full online display and comment form is at bit.ly/NMstatuesurvey Display live in City Chambers till Fri. 14th Nov. 4pm

Inkosi Albert Luthuli was elected as the Rector of the University of Glasgow in October 1962, and served until 1965. Due to the South African government's banning orders, which confined him to his home in Groutville, Natal, he was unable to travel to Scotland to be installed or fulfill his duties in person, serving in absentia. The University of Glasgow and the British Foreign Secretary's efforts to obtain permission for him to travel failed. In his absence, the Student Representative Council established the Luthuli Scholarship Fund to enable a Black South African student to study at Glasgow University. Photo: Eli Weinberg

Whether online or in person, please complete the survey and so have your views considered in the final choice of sculptor and design for what will be an iconic monument to celebrate Nelson Mandela and his links with Scotland - a statue in Glasgow's Nelson Mandela Place.

Mandela Statue consultation begins! The online display of photos/videos of the 5 maquettes is now live at bit.ly/NMstatuesurvey The stunning scale models will be on display in Glasgow City Chambers every day from Monday 10-Friday 14 Nov. for anyone to look and leave comments.

“No struggle depends on one person — but there are exceptions to every rule. Comrade O.R. is that exception.” — Nelson Mandela on his close friend #ORTambo, 1991. Honouring Oliver Reginald Tambo, 108 years on. #HappyBirthdayORTambo #TamboMonth2025 #PanAfricanUnity #GlobalSolidarity #TamboRemembered

Mandela statue public consultation. Maquettes of designs from 5 sculptors competing to create the Mandela statue for Mandela Place, Glasgow, will be on public view in Glasgow City Chambers between 7th & 14th Nov. Book your visit at bit.ly/Mandelaconsult & give your views.

40 years ago staff at Dunnes stores in Ireland were on a long strike for their union policy not to handle S. African goods.We brought some of them to Scotland in 1985 to speak to trade unionists and politicians here, and Irish AAM gave active support. Ewan MacColl sang about them

Poet and ANC activist Benjamin Moloise was hanged 40 years ago today for a murder he did not commit.A picket of the S.African consulate in Glasgow called for his reprieve as did the UN, USA and USSR. Glasgow Council had just agreed to rename the consulate address Mandela Place.

Celebrating the Anniversary of Nelson Mandela’s visit to Glasgow mandelascottishmemorial.org/celebrating-th…

The public consultation will be in the City Chambers, and slots will need to be booked once the link is available. Pictures will also be online at the link above. Comments on the five options will be welcome, both on paper and online. The final decision will be taken soon after.

9 Oct.1993 Mandela came to Glasgow to accept the Freedom of 9 councils.We hope the same date in 2026 will see the unveiling of his statue in Mandela Place. Maquettes by the 5 shortlisted sculptors will be on show next month. Bookings link soon here & at bit.ly/NMSMF

Glasgow that year was European City of Culture, enabling serious funding by Strathclyde Regional Council, Glasgow City Council and others, as well as NALGO. The ANC policy on the cultural boycott was just changing, and Govan Mbeki's speech on cultural resistance was significant

That concert included the world premiere in City Halls of "I will wait", Wally Serote's poem set to music by Scottish composer Bill Sweeney, commissioned by NALGO trade union. Community venues across Glasgow then hosted a huge number & variety of S. African cultural groups.

23-09-1990 saw the opening day and launch concert of the Sechaba International Conference & Festival of Cultural Resistance to Apartheid in Glasgow by the Scottish Anti-Apartheid Movement, STUC & ANC with Govan Mbeki as keynote speaker + 2 weeks of cultural events of all kinds.