CAMPAIGN FOR A JOHN MACLEAN STATUE IN GLASGOW
The John Maclean statue campaign is appealing for donations both large and small, as it is critical that we see a statue of John Maclean erected in Glasgow city centre. The statue will honour the life and works of the revolutionary socialist in the heart of his home city, serving as a beacon of his legacy and a lasting tribute to one of Scotland's greatest heroes.
The estimate for the sculpture is £46900 + VAT, plus the cost of laying the foundation. Should we exceed the necessary amount the surplus will go towards funding other Maclean projects, such as a plaque, bench and ongoing literary publications. Campaign announcements and further information will follow on our social media accounts and in the press, and these will also be conveyed at Maclean events.
The campaign has already raised approximately £14,000 and this crowdfunder has been launched with the intention of securing the remaining funds.
We have held a meeting with Glasgow City council's provost in the City chambers and reached an agreement for the statue to be sited close to the McLennan Arch at Glasgow Green on the Saltmarket, facing the High Court and pointing. The intended inscription of the statue will be: "I am not here, then, as the accused; I am here as the accuser of capitalism dripping with blood from head to foot."
The quote for the statue has been provided by Powderhall Bronze Ltd, 18-19 West Harbour Rd, Edinburgh, EH5 1PN
https://www.powderhallbronze.co.uk/
DETAILS OF THE QUOTE:
To produce a full size clay sculpture: £18,500
To mould and cast in bronze: £22,000
Bronze base- Approx. 400mm high 600mm x 600mm footprint: £3,800
Cast bronze plaque- 500mm x 350mm: £1,100
Delivery & installation onto site/foundation: £1,500
Cost of preparing the foundation site: £2,200
TOTAL COST = £58,480
MINUS £14,000 FUNDS ALREADY RAISED - THIS CROWDFUNDER'S TARGET = £44,480
The John Maclean Statue Campaign is appealing for donations, as well as supporters sharing the project to raise awareness of the initiative, and encourage friends and family to pledge their support for this most worthy cause. We wish to thank everyone who donates and supports the project. Lets get this statue Crowdfunded!
WHY SHOULD YOU PLEDGE TOWARDS A STATUE OF JOHN MACLEAN?
John Maclean (born 24 August 1879, died 30 November 1923) was not only Scotland's greatest socialist but internationally renowned. He held mass gatherings and socialist economic classes in not only Scotland, but also spoke in England, Ireland and Wales. He opposed the First World War and held Hands off India and Ireland campaigns, and took on the might of the British Empire. He supported a Scottish Worker's Republic before the birth of the modern SNP. Many of the National Party of Scotland were Republican Socialists such as RB Cunninghame Graham, Dr John S Clarke (who also founded the original short lived Labour party 1888-1895), plus Hugh McDiarmid, Compton MacKenzie and Roland E Muirheadl. Maclean was appointed Soviet consul by Lenin and the Bolsheviks, although his consul in South Portland street Glasgow was not recognised by the British Government. He refused to travel illegally, as others did who formed the Great British Communist party. Sir Basil Thompson, head of Security in Scotland, instructed his agents to put the word out that Maclean was "mad". He was sacked and blacklisted from his teaching job, frequently jailed and given hard labour. His official cause of death was pneumonia, caused by starvation and poverty- giving his only overcoat to a black comrade amid a cold November winter. Those who paid to watch him 24/7 claimed he was "paranoid", as did his Unionist political opponents who claimed him to be a political deviant. John Maclean is one of Scotland's greatest heroes, yet the city which he called home is yet to pay him the respect that he is due and suitably commemorate his life achievements and lasting legacy with a public statue. This is why we have started this campaign, and why we encourage donations large and small so that we all can behold a bold bronze statue of the legendary Scotsman in his Native city, over the generations and generations to come.
#MacleanCampaign
Campaign social media accounts:
X: @MacLeanCampaign
Facebook:
@MacLeanCampaign
Campaign email address:
ALL HAIL THE SCOTTISH WORKERS REPUBLIC !