Digbeth Community Arts Project
Written by Nicky Getgood on Tuesday, November 4th, 2008 ( Start discussion )
Tags: chris holder, digbeth community arts project, Digbeth Residents Association
Last night I went to the Digbeth Residents’ Association meeting. Along with the usual resident grumbles was Chris Holder, a local tenant and architect student who’s keen to see his neighbourhood engage and improve, presenting his preliminary ideas for a much-needed community arts project. He’s very kindly emailed the first draft of his project brief which I’ve copied and pasted here:
Project Brief: Digbeth Residents Association
- Improve community relationships between new and existing businesses, residents, other community groups such as and the local primary school.
- Improve the quality of our environment, reduce the impact of anti social behaviour and raise awareness of strong existing community with the city council.
- Act as a community to help the city council to provide the type of services and industry housing and infrastructure that is much need in the locality for the area to become a vibrant hub.
- Raise the aspirations of local children and show them how communities can effect change in their environment.
Project: Community Art Project
We aim to engage a number of public artists to work with the local school children and community groups to help design the new Bradford Street. This street is a vital link between the city centre and the new development along Alcester Street, Cheapside and Mosley Road. This area currently lacks identity and is in danger of becoming a placeless neighbourhood which is causing great concern for business and residents alike.
Bradford Street has currently undergone a huge change with over 50% of the buildings that once formed the street having been cleared to make way for new development. Due to a number of factors not least the economic downturn we believe there are currently no plans to build on this land for the next few years.
It is our intention to take ownership of the street and using the existing hoardings produce an alternative vision for the area.
A vision that may include the River Rea as its centre-piece, with waterfront shops and restaurants along its banks. Views of the Custard Factory, workspace for the new creative industries, family housing, leisure facilities, local shops, and much need public services such as doctors and dentists.
We are hoping to gain the support of the Made, Birmingham City Council Development Department, Local Police, local business and residents alike.
We feel this project could act as a design guide for how this area is redeveloped and in the interim provide a positive message to visitors to the area, that this is a community and not just another faceless development.
We feel that the culmination of this project should involve a street party where Bradford Street is closed and all participants and locals are invited to enjoy the atmosphere and share in the diversity culture of the area, enjoy the artwork and discus what they would like to see in the area. It is also are aim to provide temporary trees with the help of BTCV to finish our vision for the area.
