Autism Friendly
The Lotus Club: Japanese Documentary Series
- Tickets
-
Free - ticket required
- Dates and times
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Every month on the last Wednesday from 28th Jan 2026 until 25th Nov 2026
6:00pm
- Age
- Adult
- Venue
A lotus flower grows out of the mud and blossoms above the muddy surface of the water. What are seen above the muddy surface of Japan and Scotland, in the eyes of two Glasgow-based Japanese journalists?
The Lotus Club is a monthly documentary screening club running from 6-7.30pm on the last Wednesday of each month.
Free, but ticketed please book here.
Our 2026 dates are as follows:
28-January, 25-February, 29-April, 27-May, 24-June, 29-July, 26-August, 30-September, 28-October, 25-November.
28 January
“Teaching Scottish Country Dance in Scotland - Atsuko Clement” (2019)
She came from Japan to Scotland to learn Scottish Country Dance. Now she is teaching it in Scotland.
“Japanese isn’t English” (2016)
Which aspects of English pronunciation are difficult to teach in Japan?
25 February
“The bird, the tree, the fish and the bell of Glasgow” (2014)
What do you read in this enigmatic rhyme associated with Glasgow’s coat of arms? Christian ministers, an artist and a Taichi teacher ponder.
“Sophie’s Glasgow” (2016)
Sophie is eleven years old, living in Glasgow. She shows around her Glasgow.
29 April
“Environmental Radioactivity in Fukushima in 2019” (2021)
A snap-shot of Fukushima in 2019. Fukushima-Chernobyl research project was disrupted by the pandemic and Russian invasion of Ukraine. Yet, life and work went on at Fukushima University and a local sake distillery.
27 May
“Design Kimono - Koji YOSHIE” (2017)
“Live a tradition in Maramures, Romania” (2014)
What does it mean to keep traditional art forms? A Kimono designer in Kyoto and a folk musician in Romania living in a traditional timber house, talk about their challenges.
24 June
“Equality and Equity at Scottish School - Andrew Robson” (2017)
“Equity at Scottish School - Lois Lurinsky” (2019)
“Yawata Primary, Soma City, Fukushima” (2014)
What is fairness at school? Equality or Equity? This question was answered by two teachers at Hillhead Primary School, Glasgow. With this question in mind, a short video of a Japanese school may be revealing.
29 July
“Our Scotland: a Japanese perspective” (2013)
What is seen in Scotland by strangers/outsiders living there?
“Hope - Rev Dr Norman Shanks” (2016)
Why do people have hope in difficult circumstances?
26 August
“Hiroshima after Fukushima” (2018)
“Christianity is about relationship, hope…Rev Bruce Keeble” (2015)
He was born in China. In his childhood, he was captured in Japanese
internment camps in China. 50 years later, he came to Glasgow as a church minister and found, among the congregation, two Japanese.
30 September
“Rehabilitate Tomioka, Fukushima” (2020)
All the residents of Tomioka Town, Fukushima, were evacuated after the nuclear accident of March 2011. The government has tried to return them by removing top layers of radioactive soil. How has this endeavour worked?
28 October
“Glasgow West Housing Association: an unofficial story” (2015)
Glasgow West Housing Association dates back to Hillhead Housing Association established in the late 1970s by two churches. What are visions of the founding members and those who have developed it?
25 November
“X”
This is currently being edited, using interviews carried out in July 2025. It will be Japan Desk Scotland’s 14th Fukushima documentary.
Accessibility guides
The AccessAble guide can be found here
The Kelvin Hall Visual Story can be found here.
A floor plan for the venue is available here.
Other accessibility information
Please note that only assistance dogs are permitted within the building.
Kelvin Hall has a dedicated quiet room that can be used for prayer or for those needing a calm space. It is located on the ground floor beside the Sports Hall, please ask staff for directions.
Sensory bags which include ear defenders are available for visitors to use during their time in Kelvin Hall. These can be collected from reception.
Accessible toilets
The accessible toilet is located off the main corridor. There is changing places toilet.
Assistance dogs
Guide and assistance dogs are welcome.
Hearing loop
There is a fixed loop hearing assistance system.
If you use British Sign Language, you can watch our British Sign Language introduction to Kelvin Hall.
Wheelchair access
There is wheelchair and pram access to all public areas using the lifts and there are free wheelchairs available to hire at reception.
Baby changing
There is a dedicated baby changing room near reception, please ask staff for directions. The Play n' Climb has its own toilets with additional baby changing facilities.
Baby feeding
Cafe or restaurant
The Café at Kelvin Hall is a bright open space, located on the left hand side as you enter the building. There is a combination of booth seating and tables. It's a great space to meet friends, catch up before a class or grab a takeaway coffee before a walk through the West end.
See the menu here.
The Kelvin Hall café serves breakfast, lunch, kid's meals, cakes, coffee and cold drinks.
Opening Hours:
Monday - Friday: 8am-5pm
Saturday & Sunday: 8.30am-5pm
Borrow Cup
As part of our commitment to reducing our use of disposable drinks cups, the Kelvin Hall Café is now participating in the Borrow Cup scheme. For a £1 deposit, customers are served their drinks in a reusable Borrow Cup, this cup can then be returned to the café or another participating venue where the £1 deposit will be returned.
Parking
Paid parking is available at the Bunhouse Road car park. The car park is managed by City Parking.
There are spaces reserved for blue badge holders close to the entrance of Kelvin Hall on Bunhouse Road as well as on street parking, where standard charges apply.
Bunhouse Road Car park has facilities for electric car charging as part of the ChargePlace Scotland public network.
Parking costs:
Up to 1 hour £3.00
• 1-2 hours £5.00
• 2-3 hours £7.50
• 3-4 hours £10.00
• 4-5 hours £10.00
• 5-6 hours £10.00
• 6-7 hours £10.00
• 7-8 hours £10.00
• 8-9 hours £10.00
• 9-10 hours £10.00
• Overnight Flat rate 6pm - 8am £3.00
Please note these machines take coins only and no change can be given.
Maximum stay 10 hours
Cashless parking is available as a payment method via RingGo at our surface pay! We advise downloading or registering for RingGo prior to your visit. To register or find out more please visit https://myringgo.co.uk/.
This car park is operated by Neighbourhoods, Regeneration and Sustainability for more information please visit https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/carparks
Photography and video recording
Please follow this link to read guidelines on photography, filming and sketching in all Glasgow Life Museums.
Free wifi
Location Map
We encourage visitors to use public transport or active travel to access Kelvin Hall where possible.
Use Traveline Scotland to plan your trip
By train
Kelvin Hall is around 20 minutes walk from Partick Station
Subway
The nearest subway station is Kelvinhall.
By bus
First Bus services 2, 3 and 77 all stop outside the museum.
By Bike:
Kelvingrove Park forms part of the Kelvin Walkway, which links with the Glasgow Loch Lomond Clydeway and the West Highland Way. The venue can be easily reached by bicycle and bicycle parking is available to the front of the building.
There is secure, covered short term bike storage provided by Cyclehoop located at the front of the building. This can be accessed and paid for via the Cyclehoop app, this can be downloaded here.
By Car
Kelvin Hall is situated on Argyle Street, around 6 minutes from the M8.