The aim of this work was to advocate for meanwhile space use of the assets owned by the council’s with a focus on repurposing them for creative workspace and activities. The work was in response to the declining high street in a post-retail context, can we find new, radical and alternative uses for these previously retail dependent destinations? What are the barriers to this model of development? What knowledge is missing and what resources are needed to embrace this way of working?
We worked with asset owners and cultural officers to understand more about their ambitions and current challenges for their regions and how creative meanwhile space projects could benefit their longer terms aims of revitalising their high streets and city centres.
As experts in the field of repurposing commercial spaces for artists to use we brought our experience and knowledge to the project – demystifying the approach and championing its benefits. Teaming with CSM, experts in their own right in terms of workspace and regeneration projects, we put forward robust recommendations, evidence and tools to support the initiative.
We’re happy to announce that we can now share the results of this co-produced study and hope that it paves the way for both future conversation and direct action in addressing new ways to build back our cities and towns for residents, businesses and artists.
Now post-covid this work takes on increased significance as we start to imagine and plan to return to very different landscapes within our cities and towns. We’d love to talk to you more about our approach, research and recommendations and welcome enquiries from local authorities, land and asset owners. Let’s build back better, the time is now.
The work was funded by One Public Estate.
Other things!
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Artists
I'm Gonna Find You White Rabbit! by Silvia Liebig
Silvia Liebig's artist book I'm Gonna Find You White Rabbit!: Being Beeston Projekt 2019-2023 is now available to buy.
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Event
Reproductive Futures: Creative Workshop
Join artist Herfa Thompson and academic Zoe Tongue to explore your reproductive health experiences, responding to the duo's Reproductive Futures exhibition, in this visual art workshop.
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News
Welcome to our new trustees
We’re thrilled to welcome two new trustees to our Board following a recent round of open recruitment.
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News
Artist selected for Taipei artist residency
Leeds-based artist James Thompson has been selected for a sought-after six-week residency at Treasure Hill Artist Village in Taiwan, from August to September 2024.
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Commission
Making Public Art - a new interview series
We worked with some wonderful artists throughout 2023 to bring large-scale mural pieces to various locations across Leeds. We’ve been catching up with the artists, in a new series that looks at working with communities, sustainability, and their working process in creating public art.
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Artist support
No Going Back: exploring the archives
Here are some of our favourite images from last month's No Going Back exhibition, for anyone who may have missed it.