Placemaking creates or reinforces local pride and a 'sense of place'– its feeling or spirit. Connecting people with the cultural heritage of the place they live connects community members to one another.
'Social capital' – the networks, shared values and trust – essential for a community to thrive is eroded where people feel disconnected from the place in which they live. Discovering, understanding, valuing and sharing a community's cultural heritage is central to physical and/or social placemaking and regeneration projects.
Cultural heritage may stem from physical assets – historic or modern buildings and landscapes – or from intangible traditions and stories of the past. It is equally meaningful and significant in areas of social deprivations as in established tourist destinations.
The skills I use working on community regeneration and placemaking projects derive from the community arts projects, information design, communications audits, multi-language texts and writing roles I've held and are supported with study – Post-graduate Certificate Cultural Heritage Research , MA International Design & Communication Management and BA(Hons) Graphic Design.
The exhibition launch with local performing dignitaries
Interpretation panel: the Empire Theatre closed in 1955 (the starting point of the exhibition). Dance teacher, Molly Tanner (above) performed in the last ever show
1955–1985 – a web of places and people connecting Swindon's performing arts scene
Client starting point: a collection of directions rather than a circular trail
After much walking of potential routes and gaining permissions, the final trail route
