Involving and engaging local communities is key to the success of the Elevate programme, as housing and neighbourhoods are being developed to meet their needs and expectations, and will affect their lives. Elevate's community engagement strategy outlines how this will be achieved.
Click here to see our community engagement strategy
CREATIVE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
The role of the arts is to improve consultation and communication with residents, a role that can be vitally important during times of major change and regeneration… Equally evident are the more personal and social impacts of these art projects, the ways in which they have transformed individual lives, helped bind communities more closely together and create a sense of pride and identity.
Peter Hewitt, Arts Council England
Elevate recognises the opportunity provided by the Community Engagement Strategy (CES) to demonstrate the role creative activity can play in helping communities to articulate their needs and concerns about the changes they face and adapt to these by playing an active part in the renewal programme. In partnership with Arts Council England:North Westand Lancashire County Council’s Arts Development Service, Elevate appointed a Creative Community Engagement Officer in March 2007. This 3-year post will support and facilitate, and with the local authorities deliver a programme of creative community engagement through the Housing Market Renewal scheme.
Contact
For more information about the Creative Community Engagement programme, click on the headings below or contact Frances Downie on 01254 304583 or frances.downie@elevate-eastlancs.co.uk.
Pennine Lancashire Squared
An international competition to design and implement six new ‘squares’ across Pennine Lancashire is now under way! Elevate, with the local authority partners, aspires to see creative community engagement embedded into the process of the competition and the realisation of the newly designed public spaces. The process of engagement is key to the success of these spaces, in terms of developing a programme of community engagement for local people and celebratory, high profile events for visitors to Pennine Lancashire.
Engaging creatively develops sense of place, community ownership and civic pride. Clear communication methods and applying the four levels of engagement – information giving, consultation, involvement and empowerment – at appropriate times within the development of the competition and projects contribute to successful and sustainable ‘squares’.
Click here for more details.
Advocacy
- To develop a comprehensive communications strategy to promote Elevate’s creative community engagement programme regionally and nationally.
- To act as an advocate for Elevate’s community-centred approach to HMR and contribute to its successful delivery.
- To increase awareness and understanding of the effectiveness of creative community engagement at all levels from senior policy makers to community members.
Projects and reports
1. Creative Regeneration took place in February and March 2007 and consisted of a conference day and an artist training day. The events were attended by 180+ people and stimulated the debate about engaging creative practices into regeneration programmes. Presentations were given by artists Matt Baker and David Cotterrell and projects were represented by The Hidden Gardens in Glasgow and the Bristol Cabot Circus development. A handout was produced for the delegates to explain the benefits and government context to engaging communities creatively. To download, click here.
2. The Creative Community Engagement annual report for 2007/08 demonstrates how the programme's strategic objectives are being met as well as outlining case studies of project work. To download, click here.
3. The Creative Youth Engagement research report was published in November 2008 to highlight how young people are engaged in the regeneration of Pennine Lancashire. The report includes government context, case studies, findings of the research, opportunities, key challenges and recommendations to encourage young people to be more involved in the regeneration of their neighbouhoods. To download, click here.
4. The West Accrington Handbook of Ideas is an example of how Elevate sees creativity and community engagement being embedded into the housing regeneration for the area. The ideas highlighted in the handbook demonstrate how local residents, local authority officers, private sector partners and creative professionals can work together and play a role in the transition of the area. This is the first project of its kind (that we are aware of) which has successfully engaged local people at the core of the production and delivery. Click here to download the handbook. Mid Pennine Arts has worked with the community and key stakeholders to ensure there is a real sense of local ownership of this work with a delivery of a community version which will be printed very soon.
5. Lancashire County Council and Elevate jointly commissioned Civic Architects to carry out a research study as part of the ongoing work to support and develop opportunities for community engagement in the regeneration of Pennine Lancashire and the Housing Market Renewal programme. A programme/model for a Design Academy has been outlined in the research report and a summary of the report is highlighted in this briefing paper. The report illustrates case studies where Civic has been involved in previous projects and identifies how architecture, social improvement, education, arts and ideas about both the built and natural environment can come together in one model. The Design Academy works by creating a framework of opportunities for communities and professionals to acquire new skills and then get involved in furthering real sustainable change in Pennine Lancashire. A key aim is to embed skills and capacity permanently at the local level by delivering these opportunities as a co-ordinated and complementary package. Click here to download the research study.
6. CABE (the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment) has published Artists & Places, which includes essays from prominent urban commentators which explore why and how artists can make a difference to new developments, and six case studies demonstrating how the process works. An evaluation of the approach shows how value can accrue from engaging artists as development consultants. To download, click here.
7. From 2006-2008, postgraduate students from Sheffield University’s School of Architecture have been working in the Pennine town of Accrington, developing architectural and public realm proposals with the full involvement of Elevate, Hyndburn Borough Council, local communities and local businesses. The students specialise in public realm improvements, exploring the potential of cross-programming in an urban situation and using techniques which blur the boundaries between art and architecture. They have engaged with communities through market stalls, performances, exhibitions in alternative spaces, interactive happenings and conversations, creating a dialogue familiar to the people ofAccrington.
The engagement process and the exciting and inspirational ideas for the town's public realm identity which resulted have been published as a book,Visions of Accrington, funded by Elevate and launched by Housing Minister Yvette Cooper in July 2007.
The book charts the design process, in four chapters:
Making stories outlines the various playful events and happenings – from market stalls to dancing – which the students used to engage people with their environment, and presents possibilities for how everyday spaces could be used.
Gathering stories describes the ways existing stories were collected to inform the design process, including anecdotal information from passers-by and stories from people within decision-making organisations.
Testing stories shows the importance of ongoing engagement with local people which enables architects to continue seeking feedback so that their work remains rooted in reality.
Telling storiesreveals how deeply the students’ proposals forAccringtonhave been influenced by continual engagement with the local community.
Copies of the book are available at £10 each from Claire Tymon, telephone 01254 304583, e-mail claire.tymon@elevate-eastlancs.co.uk, or click here for an order form.
