STRATEGIES FOR CULTURAL REGENERATION
DOWNLOAD REPORT
The game playing event was part of a programme of consultation headed by Corby Borough Council with Regeneration East Midlands (REM) and the OPUN Architecture Centre to map out proposals for cultural regeneration in the town and took place at the Fermynwoods Contemporary Art Ltd.
It responded to a number of existing documents including the North Northamptonshire Core Spatial Strategy (adopted June 2008), the Local Development Framework Issues & Options Paper (consulted in May 2006), which provides details of how and where Corby should be developed up to 2021 and a 2007 strategy document produced with Northamptonshire County Council and Arts Council England and written by Modus Operandi Art Consultants entitled Visioning Ideas for Cultural Regeneration In Corby. The latter is an exploratory piece that captures a number of key themes for development, identifying principles and good practice exemplars in public art, architecture and public realm from which the town might build. It also highlights that (upon publication) Corby and North Northants was receiving investment of a scale and intensity higher than that of the Thames Gateway.
The legacy of Corby’s economic past and present gives it a number of opportunities for cultural development. The town’s diverse and unique mix of peoples- dominated by Scottish influence and accent and celebrated with an annual Highland Gathering- is unique in the area. The industrial heritage of the steelworks sits alongside a county characterised by rolling fields, villages and stately homes, while New Town planning principles has given it large wide expanses of urban open space and distinctive estate architecture and layouts. However, appreciation of these facets has been traditionally hard to measure and difficult to market. Participation in the arts is regarded as low and the challenge in implementing a cultural strategy will be generating a distinctive offer to engage incoming groups- new residents and visitors, while supporting and nurturing indigenous expression.
Chris Mallender- Chief Executive, Corby Borough Council-
The Building Future Game was a creative and exciting way to generate ideas and scenarios for the future of the town- based on the values, amenities and services that are important to people. It’s a great alternative to the traditional map or plan based approach, which puts an emphasis on how people want to live in and use an area. Although sceptical at the start- the further I got into it, the more I enjoyed it. It might not replace Monopoly but it was good fun!
RELATED LINKS
CORBY BOROUGH COUNCIL
EAST MIDLANDS REGENERATION
FERMYNWOODS CONTEMPORARY ART LTD
BACK TO BUILDING FUTURES GAME HOME
FACILITATED EVENTS
Building Futures worked with the council as consultants on this event and the report that followed.
If you are interested in pursuing a partnership along similar lines or wish to open a conversation about how the Game could help you email:
buildingfutures@inst.riba.org
