We’re absolutely delighted to share that The Boardwalk has been shortlisted at The Scottish Event Awards 2026!
Alongside Edinburgh International Conference Centre and the Technology & Innovation Centre (TIC) at the University of Strathclyde, The Boardwalk is a finalist in the Best Scottish Event Venue category this year.
The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony at Glasgow Science Centre on Thursday 30 April.
It’s a huge honour for our small, hardworking team and for the creative community that uses our spaces every day. This recognition is especially meaningful because The Boardwalk has always been about more than events, it’s about people, purpose, opportunity, community, and creativity.
An arts venue with purpose
The Boardwalk is social enterprise events venue run by Impact Arts, a Scottish arts charity, so every booking directly supports people across Scotland facing real barriers in their lives. We put this at the centre of everything we do and we’re so grateful that the awards have recognised the value of that mission.
Creative spaces that spark fresh ideas
One of the things we love most about The Boardwalk is how differently people use it. Over the past year, our spaces have been transformed into galleries, runways, rehearsal spaces, workshop spaces, performance venue, installations, hybrid learning studios, and even a home for bagpipe championships.
We’ve seen organisations, artists, students, and corporate teams all take the space in directions we never would’ve imagined. Supporting that kind of experimentation is one of the best parts of what we do and we feel lucky to work with people who bring so much imagination into the building.
Working together to make events feel easy
Our team cares deeply about making people feel supported and at ease, and the feedback we receive is something we never take for granted. Customers often comment on how collaborative and helpful the team is, whether we’re coordinating with caterers, helping with technical setups, or navigating last‑minute changes.
We’ve loved hearing comments like:
“Everyone was happy and well looked after by your colleagues. Thank you for organising everything and your team for going extra miles to make us all comfortable.” – Social Action Scotland
“The entire experience was an extremely positive one and I just want to thank all the staff for making our production such a success. We can’t wait to work with the venue and staff again.” – New College Lanarkshire
“I just wanted to say an enormous thank you to you and your team for hosting us. The Boardwalk was such a welcoming space, our team felt so well looked after and Hamish, in particular, was a total star! I have never seen anyone work so calmly and competently, and with such speed and sensitivity – what a total hero!” – Stumped Opera
A year of growth and community impact
Being shortlisted comes at the end of a year that’s been both busy and exciting for us. We’ve welcomed more bookings than ever, continued to grow our community of long‑term arts tenants, and made progress on our environmental goals through the Step Up to Net Zero programme.
Most importantly, the income from events this year has helped Impact Arts deliver even more life‑changing creative work in communities across Scotland.
That connection, between an event at The Boardwalk and someone gaining confidence, skills, or support through an Impact Arts programme, is why we do what we do.
Thank you
We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who has been part of The Boardwalk’s journey so far: the customers who have brought their creative ideas, the artists and charities who bring life into the building, and the partners and supporters who help us grow.
Being shortlisted is a lovely moment of recognition but the real joy is seeing what happens in our spaces every day.
Thank you to EventIt and the Scottish Event Awards for recognising The Boardwalk. Fingers crossed for April 30!
The Boardwalk is a creative, accessible venue in the heart of Glasgow’s Merchant City with a variety of meeting, performance, studio, and event spaces for hire. Our colourful building is adorned with artwork and has a large foyer and fully functional theatre with a capacity of up to 180 people. We can also provide delicious and diverse catering options and a drinks service.
The bonus? We’re a social enterprise which means every time you choose to host an event at The Boardwalk, you are directly supporting Scottish community arts charity, Impact Arts.
Planning your next event? Book a space at The Boardwalk today.
Email [email protected] or call us on 0141 575 3001
