 |
Case Studies |
Examples from Partners
Scotland
Ellon
Project Title: Public Art
|
Description: The public art project is an example of a project focused around identity and the involvement of school and community groups.
|
Objectives:
- To create a gateway artwork to be placed on the roundabout at the entrance to Bridge Street in Ellon, Aberdeenshire.
- To give a sense of arrival in Ellon Town Centre.
- To provide a mechanism for community engagement for the people of Ellon.
- To celebrate the heritage and natural heritage of Ellon and the surrounding area.
|
Process/Stages:
- Work with Ellon Strategy group (ESG) to select a suitable artist. Artists were asked to submit examples of previous work and then the ESG met to chose the most appropriate.
- Artist put forward several proposals which were put out to public consultation including sessions with detached youth workers in Ellon.
- Planning consent sought for the chosen proposal.
- Young people from Ellon traveled down to Glasgow to the artist’s studio to see the fabrication and tour his other glasgow based work.
- Planning worked with roads to re landscape Bridge street roundabout and set up lighting for the artwork.
- Planning liaised with the artist to place the piece on the roundabout including engineering, traffic control, environmental landscaping.
- Liaison with press throughout
|
Outcomes/Results:
- A public sculpture which fulfills the brief
- Identified groups who may be interested in future proposals.
|
Learning Points:
- Tight time scales
- A need for a more involved consultation process.
|
Inverurie
Inverurie has an identity as the regional centre for the area, and all roads lead to Inverurie (in central Aberdeenshire, at least!). There is a strong history and culture. Elements of its identity and culture are:
- pre-history archaeology – Celtic carved stones
- extensive history – local battles and fortified castle
- industrial history – railway workshops and paper mill
- marketing as a ‘market town’ with mixture of family businesses and chain stores
- cultural centre for area and host for visiting groups
- ‘Welcome to Inverurie’ gateways at town entrances – theme of “Heart of the Garioch”
- proposed development of local Heritage Centre
Stonehaven
Project Title: Belonging to Stonehaven Photography Project
|
Description: Multi-perspective look at life in the town. Youth photography competition, exhibition by local amateur camera club and a local professional photographer, plus written commentary by local residents. Budgeted costs £4265, of which £1315 provided by INTERREG.
|
Objectives: To identify, in photographs and writing, factors which make residents value Stonehaven.
|
Process/Stages:
- June-July 2006: Recruited Stonehaven youth to the project, provided cameras and training as necessary. Working independently, youth took photos of their experiences of the town.
- July 2006: Via local newspaper, library, and networks, local adults were invited to provide short commentaries about the town. Originally the hope was that the contributors also would consent to their portrait being taken to accompany the writing, but most declined.
- August 2006: Youth submitted 30 photographs each for judging. A panel chose the best for display and selected one overall prize-winner.
- August 2006: Preparation of prints, commentaries for exhibition and publicity.
- August 28-9 September 2006 : Belonging to Stonehaven exhibition at Stonehaven Leisure Centre. 3 sections: photographs from youth competition, display by Mearns Camera Club, and photographs by Andy Hall, all depicting various facets of Stonehaven.
|
Outcomes/Results:
- Well-attended exhibition: approx 325 visitors and 19 comments in guest book. Leisure Centre gained confidence to host more exhibitions.
- Youth encouraged to develop photography skills and to open their eyes to their town.
- Residents challenged to think about their town.
|
Learning Points:
- Nearly all photographs and commentaries showed positive aspects of the town, yet we know that residents have complaints. Ways must be found to stimulate critical, constructive commentary for future development
- Photography is ideal medium for a survey—it is popular (many people have basic skills), fast, inexpensive, easy to apply to other purposes
- mixture of ages and amateur/professional status of participants was mutually rewarding and productive
|
Contact Information: Marie Shaw, Arts Development Officer, Aberdeenshire Council. Project report and photos on SusSET website: www.britnett-carver.co.uk/susset/belongingtostonehaven.html |
Stonehaven it’s Special (see ‘Tourism’ and ‘Marketing and Promotion’ components)
Stonehaven Photography Project, including youth competition, amateur club exhibition and professional commission to capture sense of belonging and identity of the town. See - www.britnett-carver.co.uk/susset/belongingtostonehaven.html
Sweden
Kungälv
Project Title: Idealimage of Kungalv
|
Description: Vision inkle values, insights and strategies for the future city centre of Kungälv. It’s a framework for the urban government.
|
Objectives:
Develop a town that consists of all the qualities of a city centre.
More people
Develop from the unique old town identity but don’t be afraid off new expressions
|
Process/Stages:
Jan. 2002 SWOT-analyse describing the situation in 2002.
Spring 2002 Identification of key values and objectives for town qualities
Autumn 2002 Dialog through a charrette involving mayor focus groups in Kungalv.
Spring 2003 Creating a masterplan for the city centre and referral to inhabitants, focus-groups ant authorities. The referral included public hearings, advertising, newsletters and public woks through the city centre.
Autumn 2003 Municipal council approves the Ideal image of Kungälv.
|
Outcomes/Results:
- Long-term political platform
- Clear identity towards market, inhabitancies, authorities and ideas
- Good guideline for future projects
|
Learning Points:
- Time is a key factor, you need more time then you think.
- Involving people is necessary if you want a long-term platform.
- Keep it short. Think newspaper instead of book.
|
Contact Information: Municipality of Kungälv, Samhällsbyggnadskontoret, s-442 81 Kungälv, Sweden. Att Henrik Haglund or Kenth Johansson.
|
Kungälv - Mimers House (see ‘Community Facilities’)
Poland
Hel – see www.gohel.pl.
Lębork branding (see ‘Marketing and Promotion’)
Examples from Elsewhere
Atherstone bids for new identity as England’s National Booktown
The North Warwickshire market town of Atherstone, without an identity since the loss of its hatting and coal mining industries, has been reborn as Atherstone Booktown. The booktown phenomenon has been responsible for the regeneration of towns and villages around the world since book dealer Richard Booth first put Hay-on-Wye on the bibliophiles’ map some 40 years ago. The Welsh Town of Books currently has 39 bookshops as well as a wide range of book-related businesses; antique and gift shops; hotels, pubs and restaurants that thrive on the regular visits of book-loving tourists and the influx of around 60,000 visitors to the Hay Festival of Literature each year. Since the founding of Blaenafon Booktown in June 2003, Wales now boasts two booktowns while Scotland has been successfully developing its own National Booktown in Wigtown for the past eight years. For some reason, England has been slow to pick up on the regenerative effect of booktowns and has only Sedburgh in Cumbria on its list of contenders but more and more small towns languishing in the shadows of the large ‘clone towns’ created by multinational retail chains. In recognition of the potential benefits the booktown can offer to Atherstone and surrounding areas, the project has attracted start-up support from The Atherstone and Polesworth Market Towns Initiative, North Warwickshire Borough Council, Warwickshire County Council and Advantage West Midland. All those involved with the project are hopeful that Atherstone Booktown will become established in the hearts of bibliophiles around the world as England’s National Booktown
Celebrating community identity and culture, Penzance
Every year, in midsummer, around 130,000 people come together in Penzance to celebrate Golowan (Cornish for the Feast of John), one of the biggest annual celebrations of local identity held in the UK. Golowan is a revitalising of an old tradition and the climax of a year round community arts and Celtic culture project. In its 14 years, Golowan has brought together artists, musicians, storytellers and every kind of performer from the local community. It has provided local employment in an area classified as severely deprived and been showcased for its contribution to sustainable tourism. Schoolchildren from over a dozen schools look forward with excitement to making banners, costumes and floats with artists. As well as providing enjoyment, the festival brings in an estimated £4.5 million into the local economy each year. But success has its shortcomings. Despite being run by a core staff of only two, it is increasingly difficult to fund the core costs to run this vibrant community arts celebration
www.creatingexcellence.org.uk/index.html
Principal Contacts
New Economics Foundation – www.nef.org.uk
Alliance of European Culture Cities – www.avecnet.net
See also INTERREG projects ‘RECEVIN’ (Wine towns) ; ‘WALLED TOWNS’ and ‘CITTASLOW’ (Slow towns).
|
