…what’s that got to do with filling empty shops…?
Typically the ‘next steps’ we draft for #TheVacantShopsAcademy tackling #highstreet vacancy locations are only half about the empty units themselves. The rest are more general #placemaking topics: markets, street scene, events, travel, wayfinding & access, promotion and… #streetart.
It was the subject of some great conversations on our recent out & about in Tredegar, which already has two brilliant examples. Questions like: who or what should be next to feature and how might younger and older generations come up with varying options.
From that it’s easier to see how this is a really valuable part of our mission to reduce vacant unit numbers.
+ It’s a way to involve young people and our schools, in the choice of images, the design and some of the doing;
The finished article will attract people in for a look so contribute on visitor numbers and encourage those that do to take pictures and share across their social media, tempting others to go see for themselves;
And what had been blank, sometimes grubby looking, walls are suddenly an asset rather than adding to gloomier perceptions of your town or city centre.
In their own way each of those adds to the vibrancy of the location, strengthens the ‘place partnership’ / working together approach, brings people in and – if you have several around town – draws them to parts of it they may not otherwise go. So it helps existing businesses and organisations as a source of customers, and impacts positively on decision-making by potential new occupiers.
It’d be great to hear how street art is helping your town or city centre…
