Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Artists' creative use of vacant shops brings life to desolate high streets
What a wonderful opportunity - almost a shame we don't have as many empty shops as Crouch End. I wonder if a David Lammy approach might convince Paul Simon to allow to use that long-empty shop next to Tesco's?
Read the full story here at The Guardian.
Tags for Forum Posts: Third Space, creative spaces for empty places, empty shops, local ideas
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Matt on
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Hi all,
Of course I'll come back once I have more information on this. I want to be clear that if this is something we can do, we do it with an eye to having a strategy for the whole Borough, not just Crouch End.
Had some good chat about the logistics on my twitter stream yesterday... mattcooke2012
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Permalink Reply by Office of David Lammy MP on
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Sorry to come to this thread late, but I wanted to respond as Hugh asked us to help.
As we enter difficult economic times, I think we all recognise that it is likely that there will be an increasing number of unused business properties in Haringey. It is therefore essential that we work together to ensure that, wherever possible, properties do not go to waste, that creative community initiatives such as this are assisted, and that local people know that their elected representatives are here to support them.
I think this is a great idea and have written to the Council asking if it is possible to develop it. I have no doubt it may not be quite simple as the Guardian suggests, but I am keen to provide whatever support I can to take this interesting and exciting idea forward.
I am really pleased to see that Cllr Cooke is exploring this from the Council side.
David Lammy MP
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Permalink Reply by Lauren W on
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Thanks very much for that, it's encouraging to know that we've managed to get your ear on this :)
It's very true, as I'm sure you know, that the creative community in Haringey (borough) and Harringay (area) are rich and growing, despite the downturn. We at Furtherfield.org have been in the area for a long time (myself since 2005 but my colleagues much longer) and we've seen the area change hugely in this respect - the industrial estate where we're based off Hermitage Road has been almost totally converted to artist's studios, for example. More and more 'known' artists as well as lots of others, are making Haringey home, but there remains a paucity of opportunities for the public to see the work that's being produced, as there just aren't that many exhibiting organisations here, in comparison with some of the surrounding boroughs. I think Haringey really can take pride in its art-makers, and that the council could do a lot more to support them (though I know they do their best with limited resources.) I do think that giving over high-street space to artists (however temporarily) will give the wide array of creative practice taking place in the borough better visibility, and (hopefully) engage the public with them.
If the shops are used as studios, this doesn't apply so much, but I think an initiative that aims to exhibit and really make visible the work being made locally should take into account the fact that being an artist (or working for an arts organisation like I do) is a means of earning a living, and that if we're going to be involved in helping to keep high streets alive during the downturn, we should be supported (financially!) in doing so. Also mounting exhibitions always costs money, so while free (or cheap) exhibiting space is excellent, if we're going to put great art in the spaces worthy of attention from both local people and from people outside the borough, we will need a bit of dosh to do it.
Thanks so much for your support, and I hope very much that we'll be able to move this forward!
Lauren Wright
Furtherfield.org and HTTP Gallery
www.furtherfield.org, www.http.uk.net
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Permalink Reply by matt on
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On funding an exhibition space or even a community space that covers a number of uses the following maybe of interest; http://www.harringayonline.com/profiles/blogs/community-land-trusts. This is for longer term projects, rather than taking over an empty shop for a few months.
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Thanks Matt, that is really helpful. Looks like it might be more for housing-related projects, but will definitely examine further! If you have some inside scoop we should chat :)
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I'll look into it further as well. Maybe I'll see you at the Harringay Festival Group meeting.
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Permalink Reply by Liz on
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This new network may be of interest SpaceMakers which is trying to bring together people interested in creating 'third spaces' in their community.
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On Thursday I went for a wander along Green Lanes from Manor House tube
to Turnpike Lane and took some snaps of all the currently boarded-up
shops I spotted. No idea what their status is; I just looked for boards/estate agents signs.
I've put them in a Flickr group called 'Empty buildings in Haringey':
http://www.flickr.com/groups/haringeyemptybuildings/pool/
so that anyone can add others - please do!
They're also on this map (some of the dots' positions might be slightly off):
http://www.flickr.com/groups/haringeyemptybuildings/pool/map?&f...
The idea's to create a v rough inventory of empty properties in the area. I thought the council would have a decent record of this kind of thing, but they don't seem to.
Next thing after that is probably to identify compelling potential ways to use these spaces and then for the council/landlords/residents to look at the practicalities of doing so. Obviously there are plenty of obstacles to consider.
Be great to help make something good happen here.
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Some movement in high places on this
"A lease that would allow community groups to use empty shop buildings for temporary arts or education projects until a commercial use becomes available is being drafted by government lawyers, Regeneration & Renewal has learned.
The lease is the latest stage in the government-funded Meanwhile Project intended to boost community use of empty shops that have been forced to close during the recession. Temporary uses being promoted under the initiative include housing art installations or galleries, or being used as a venue for informal learning activities or theatre rehearsals.
Umbrella body the Development Trusts Association (DTA) is running the Meanwhile Project as part of its Advancing Assets for Communities programme, which receives funding from the Department for Communities and Local Government."
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