DEVELOPMENT & PLACE

square with minimum local involvement are largely behind us. As we move towards the 2020s the focus is on devising projects which not only encourage greater creative interaction with those most likely to be affected by a particular regeneration scheme, but also facilitate the transfer of creative and future skills, not just in the arts, but in professions as diverse as engineering and surveying. The aim of this approach is to leave a cultural legacy that will grow and mature over time and as local communities take ownership. There is a real purpose to this. The Creative Industries Federation confirms that the creative industries are the fastest growing part of the UK’s economy, and play a significant role in unlocking innovation and growth in other sectors. Affordable workspace for creative and cultural professionals is in demand. Local authorities and others are increasingly recognising that cultural and creative occupiers add value to local communities and help to animate and draw footfall to the public realm, so building in provision is often a win-win. City centre regeneration projects are increasingly incorporating culture to provide better outcomes for all stakeholders. What does that mean in practice? GROWTH CULTURE C ulture is increasingly called upon for inventive approaches to enlivening our towns and public spaces. This is partly a response to the changing role of the high street and rapid growth of competitive destination marketing and partly a recognition that regeneration is becoming more inclusive. Definitions of culture are many and varied. Current approaches build on heritage and local identity, as well as looking forward to how to shape places for the future. They focus on how to evolve and improve places through arts, culture, design and engagement, contributing to a wider place shaping approach; thinking about what will help to solve problems and enhance the experience of places for everyone. We all know places which are buzzing, with just the right balance of heritage character, cultural provision, diverse communities, welcoming public spaces and daily activity to engage and interest us. It’s this delicate balance which adds up to create place culture. Whether regeneration takes a strategic culture-led focus such as around a cultural anchor venue, or takes the initiative to produce creative projects ahead of development to set the scene, the best approach to embedding arts, culture and creativity is to consider the right fit for the context and be sure to build on what’s come before or find what can evolve. Often, culture is interpreted as meaning public art, and artists can play an important role. As the David Chipperfield-designed Hepworth Wakefield (part of the Yorkshire Sculpture Triangle) demonstrates, creativity – in this case British modern and contemporary art – contributes powerfully to neighbourhood and city identity, while reaching out to local communities to get involved. However, effective cultural place experiences aren’t solely about visual art and artists. They are crafted from the right mix of ingredients which together add value. Importantly, they don’t work on their own, they work as part of an ecosystem, which can comprise many different aspects, including physical spaces, temporary events and ephemeral interactions. It is worth clarifying what cultural regeneration is not. One misconception is that it is about individual cultures, something that is emphatically not the case. Cultural regeneration builds on an existing identity, celebrating people living and working in an area and the area's intrinsic assets and develops this together with the right mix of arts, culture, design, venues, creativity, whilst maintaining the community at heart so that its impact will still be marked several decades into the future. Which means it is also not about branding or marketing for short-term effects. The days of placing a sculpture in a public BIRMINGHAM SMITHFIELD Working with Cushman & Wakefield, D-P-Q produced a Public Art Vision for one of the largest development opportunities in Europe at Birmingham Smithfield (see Birmingham Spotlight feature, p.30). The team worked closely with Birmingham City Council’s culture team to develop a vision that drew upon the existing Birmingham public art strategy, supplementing this with a series of principles underlining the importance of involving artists and artistic opportunity at every stage of the development to celebrate and enhance the existing place narrative. D-P-Q’S TOP TIPS PUBLIC REALM – well-designed, inventive public space shows care and that people are welcome. Creative design and artist involvement, greening or pop up programming contribute to places that community and businesses benefit from, improving wellbeing and increasing dwell time. PUBLIC ARTS – can be permanent, ephemeral, live, integrated, spectacular, quiet, playful. Be open to new approaches and take risks for the most reward. PARTNERSHIP – with a challenging arts funding landscape, partnership between public, private, community and culture sector can generate new ideas, unlock funds and exploit the culture sector’s many strengths. CO-PRODUCTION – inspire collaboration with local people and homegrown culture. Balance strategic and informal grassroots culture, as seen in cultural destination initiatives such as City of Culture and Arts Council’s Creative People and Place programmes. VALUE EXISTING CULTURAL PROJECTS – support local culture development needs and grow local talent and opportunity. Ask local people what they think they need, rather than telling them what they want. Above Portobello Road, Notting Hill David Pierce, D-P-Q Words by: Juliet Quintero, D-P-Q 06 07 CUSHMAN & WAKEFIELD DEVELOPMENT & PLACE