CAMPAIGN TO DESIGNATE GARSTON A CULTURAL VILLAGE

What is a Cultural Village?

The answer is: it can be whatever you want it to be. Today is the result of six months of local discussions. The vision for the Garston Cultural Village starts here. In a Cultural Village, creative industries are at the heart of a community's development and regeneration.

The vision for Garston

The vision is of a Garston where the dereliction of the past has been reversed by public and private investment, particularly from regeneration agencies. It should create low cost business accommodation for the arts and cultural industries and be a breeding ground for new creative talent. Imagine architects, engineers, crafts people, graphic designers, photographers, musicians and media professionals alongside recording studios, artists' studios and galleries. A vibrant community with associated service industries such as wine bars, cafes and galleries.

There are already a lot of very talented and creative people in the community and businesses in Garston. This campaign will bring them together. It's about investing in our community to retain those talents and attract individuals prepared to invest and settle in the area.

The time has come to tackle Garston's root problems and create an environment to attract new arts and cultural ventures, creating employment and training opportunities and enabling the community to realise its full creative potential.

This launch is an open invitation to all Garston residents, businesses, artists, planners, councillors and others involved in local regeneration to get behind this campaign.

Why?

Garston has been in Speke's shadow in the economic regeneration stakes. While surrounding areas have benefited, Garston has continued to be run down. Garston needs major commitment from the council and others responsible for its regeneration.

Three things are urgently required:

• Firstly, the council should identify vacant properties owned by them and the private sector, which are opportunities for creative industries. In Newcastle, where there wasn't appropriate property, the council acquired it for the Grainger Town Project. This is urgent to stop the rot.

• Secondly, SLR (South Liverpool Regeneration) and/or LLD (Liverpool Land Development) should commission an economic assessment and feasibility study to assess how the arts and cultural industries can be a tool for regenerating Garston and the environment.

• Thirdly, resources are needed to pump prime local activities to assist local artists and the creative sector to develop ideas and work with the community NOW.


Alex Corina 10 January 2004