DOORS OPEN DAYS NATIONALLY & LOCALLY
For West Dunbartonshire's Doors Open Days see the next tab index.asp?pageid=736468
For supporting documents for our Doors Open Days and those across Scotland see index.asp?pageid=736469
Doors Open Day programmes are held across Scotland every September. In West Dunbartonshire we hold them every two years. There will be one this year.
While in essence meant to invite you into buildings that would not usually be open to you, "Doors Open" is also taken figuratively, with opening doors meaning new experiences. The programme not only have a range of buildings to visit, but will also include outdoor events such as guided walks, even bike rides, allow you up close to fire engines and demonstrate water safety equipment.
Doors Open Days is Scotland’s largest free annual architectural event. It has been celebrating heritage and the built environment in Scotland since 1990, and it takes place every September. Doors Open Days is coordinated nationally by the Scottish Civic Trust and is part of European Heritage Days alongside Scottish Archaeology Month. European Heritage Days is a pan-European project that brings citizens together and highlights the European dimensions of our shared cultural heritage. It is a joint initiative of the Council of Europe and the European Commission. Both Doors Open Days and Scottish Archaeology Month take place in September annually, are month-long events, and are supported by Historic Environment Scotland.
Doors Open Days are delivered in collaboration with area coordinators from local authorities and amenity groups, supported by many thousands of volunteers.
Visit the Doors Open Days website to learn more about the annual celebrations, find out about venues that participate each year, sign up to the ebulletin, and read all our latest news and stories. [From the SCT website]
DATES ACROSS SCOTLAND DURING 2024
7th / 8th September
Aberdeen City
Angus
Moray (Saturday only)
Scottish Borders
14th / 15th September
Orkney
Perth and Kinross
West Lothian
West Dunbartonshire (Saturday only)
21st / 22nd September
Caithness & Sutherland
Glasgow
Stirling
28th / 29th September
East Lothian
Edinburgh
Dundee
Past West Dunbartonshire programme flyers.
West Dunbartonshire endeavours to participate in Doors Open Days programmes every alternate year. It is facilitated locally through the Lennox Heritage Society, together with the Clydebank Local History Society depending on the scope of the programme.
That photograph near the top of this page is of the Doors Open Day flag flying on the West Dunbartonshire Council building in Church Street, Dumbarton. It is actually the logo of European Heritage Days under which Scotland hosts Doors Open Days. Similar events are held across Europe (and have inspired other countries too). As noted above, European Heritage Days are a combined initiative of the Council of Europe and the European Commission. This involves all 50 signatory states of the European Cultural Convention under the motto, Europe: a common heritage. The annual programme offers opportunities to visit buildings, monuments and sites, many of which are not normally accessible to the public. It aims to widen access and foster care for architectural and environmental heritage. These events are also known as Doors Open Days and Open Doors Days in English-speaking countries.
So while at a glance that may look like the ring of stars of an "EU" logo, it is in fact common to both bodies with the added emblem of historic architecture. While the UK may have left the EU, it still retains membership of the European Commission, a different, but complementary body.
This year, 2022, European Heritage Days will be celebrating Sustainable Heritage. Our local contribution, as Doors Open Days, fits in well. We have several walks and a cycle ride between venues.
EUROPEAN HERITAGE DAYS website : https://www.europeanheritagedays.com/sites/default/files/2022-03/Sustainable%20Heritage%20-%20European%20Heritage%20Days%20-%20Shared%20theme%20brochure%202022_0.pdf
MAIN DOD WEBSITE
https://www.doorsopendays.org.uk/
https://www.instagram.com/doorsopendaysscotland/
https://www.facebook.com/dodscotland
WIKIPEDIA
