Presentation made at an event hosted by Plymouth Culture Board, and supported by the University of Plymouth, Plymouth City Council and the Plymouth Chamber of Commerce, Thursday October 7, 2010. The theme of the presentation: what society and the economy wants and needs from culture and urban development is changing. In the context of the Government policy programme in the U.K. called 'Big Society', different values and emphases are now coming in to play. Three examples are given of urban renewal projects at different urban scales that express some of these new values and some of their economic impacts outlined.

1. Culture means business
David Barrie
David Barrie & Associates
07 October 2010

2. In a previous era,
‘culture’ in economic
development often
meant this…

4. In the words of
art critic Hal Foster:
“To make a big splash in the
global pond of spectacle
culture today, you have to
have a big rock to drop.”

5. And development was
something like this…

8. But now there’s something
else that we want…

10. …as well as answers to
some eternal questions:

12. In urban development and the
creative sector in the U.K.,
‘Big Society’ is the new black.
What is it?

18. What does Big Society mean
for creativity and culture in
urban renewal?

19. And where’s the evidence that
the Big Society version
of ‘culture’ is worth promoting?

20. Three random examples….

21. 1: On a city-scale:
High Line Park, New York

30. statistics
• Cost of implementation to date $43m (£27m)
• 25,000+ visitors/day
• At least 12 development projects have started
adjacent to the track
• Whitney Museum of Art (Downtown branch)
• $15 (£9) High Line Picnic Baskets

31. 2: Town-scale:
The Castleford Project,
West Yorkshire

43. Rheta Davison
Secretary, Custyke
Community Group

49. statistics
• initial working capital: £70k (CABE) and £100k (Channel 4)
• 11 capital public realm improvement projects (9 completed)
• parallel events programme: social, economic and cultural
activity (£30k)
• stakeholder partnership (1), community partnership (1), funding
partnership (1), new community groups (3), existing community
groups (6)
• Project start (2003): first completion (2005): last project (2008)
• total expenditure £9m (Capital), £2m (in kind est.) in five years
• credited as critical to leveraging £270m in plans for additional
public and private expenditure in town
• Second phase of some projects now under way/complete

50. 3: Neighbourhood scale:
The People’s Supermarket,
London

58. key start-up costs
• Rental guarantee
• Refurbishment of premises
• Staffing (General Manager)
• Donated/reclaimed fixtures, fittings &
equipment - 35% of total cost
• Pro-bono professional services - 25%

59. ‘Hybrid-funded’
social enterprise
• Local Government - 11%
• Charity - 6%
• Philanthropy - 79%
• Membership revenue (Yr 1) - 2%
• Other - 2%

60. business partners
• London Borough of Camden
• Development Trusts Association
• Esmee Fairbairn Foundation
• Channel 4 Television/Wall to Wall
• Social Enterprise London
• Camden Volunteer Centre
• The Plunkett Foundation
• Transition Bloomsbury
• Several local residents’ associations

61. performance to date
(100 days):
• attracted over 280 members
• saved members £17,000 on their shopping bills
• serving over 3000 customers/week
• estimated break-even point, end November 2010
• turnover projected to top £1.3 million by end of Yr1
• employed 20 previously-unemployed people

62. what tips to take away from
these initiatives?

63. Each accumulate knowledge,
experience, beliefs and values
and cultivate a different
and new way of life…
i.e. they’re cultural

64. …but to be practical…

66. think big, act small

67. involve, don’t “engage” people

68. network networks of people

69. create ‘hubs’ of activity,
not ‘things’

70. use money as
venture capital

71. develop social solidarity

72. create opportunities for people
to be who they want to be

73. be entrepreneurial

75. David Barrie
David Barrie & Associates
project design & delivery - creative/economic planning -
public involvement - social ventures
Blog: http://davidbarrie.typepad.com
Mail: david@davidbarrie.net