Official and Unexpected – Making it Easy Hackney has an established reputation as a place where art practise is supported – a current example is the proactive way that LBH has made it easy for the temporary transformation of the Eastern Curve or the activities planned as the 2009 Create Festival. We propose this tendency could be promoted and expanded though the way that public space is designed and managed. Supporting creativity is not about single public art commissions, but rather making it easy for all the arts, including music, visual arts, film and performance to be part of the public realm. Both official and unexpected spaces, external and internal, have been identified for cultural and community activity within Dalston. This includes internal community space such as empty shops, community centres and the new archive and library and external spaces such as Gillett Square, Bootstrap’s car park and the proposed Dalston Square.
It is important to understand the very different characters and potential of the different spaces around Dalston, as this area has a portfolio of unique spaces and opportunities and parameters within them. Gillett Square is more appropriate for some types of activity than Dalston Square and vice versa. The study highlights the opportunity to facilitate the temporary use of empty space for use by the creative community, for which there is an existing demand, and to upgrade community space to better meet needs and aspirations. Retrofit as opposed to rebuild, provides an economic way to keep space alive, retain the grain of the place and can facilitate start-ups and outreach to better evidence the creative capital in the neighbourhood.
Gillett Square Opportunities: Purpose built, Vortex on site, with the Gillett Square partnership proven programming expertise and management. Future play opportunities.
Dalston Square Opportunities: Purpose built, footfall due to transport, programme being developed, presence of library.
PROJECT THEME 3 — HOST SPACES
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