An example of creative placemaking

The term creative placemaking has increased in popularity in recent years. It is a societal development method whose purpose is to utilize the power of art, culture, and creativity to drive change, growth, and transformation in a way that strengthens character and quality of a particular place.

What is creative placemaking?

Creative Placemaking is intended to be used by communities to engage residents locally, contribute to healthy sustainable communities, and upgrade public spaces. It is a strategy used to improve the well-being and prosperity of society while simultaneously promoting the possibilities for cities to grow character and draw attention both nationally and globally.

In order to succeed in creative placemaking, each project is dependent upon collaborations between stakeholders such as governments, private investors, organizations, artists and citizen groups.

Partnerships and shared leadership are crucial to build momentum and harness the power of the arts to heighten quality of life and revitalize buildings, neighborhoods and cities. Creative placemaking is a tool to not only link community art and urban design, but also push boundaries, enhance creativity and nuance industries.

The end results of creative placemaking can be astounding, and it is important that communities do not simply borrow or copy what has been done elsewhere, but instead look to their own assets and needs to come up with place-based strategies. Around the world, combined energies and interests have used creative placemaking to transform communities and inspire positive investment and change. 

 

Where to use creative placemaking

Just like many other cities, Skövde is divided into zones. Here are villa areas, shopping areas, industrial areas, and so on. Which is a classic way to keep structure in a city. Skövde, on the other hand, is a small town with most things just a few minutes away wherever you are. Which makes this division of zones sometimes seem unprofitable as large concrete chimneys are still visible from many homes and parks. This is difficult to avoid in small towns, hence why some cities around the world have started planning their cities with something called mixed-use development.

Mixed-use development is a new-urbanist approach to urban planning that encourages walkability, diversity, high quality design and density to revitalize or develop public space and breathe new life into communities. Though zoning was historically employed to separate industrial manufacturing from residential land use to promote health and safety, the changing nature of cities in the 21st century encourages multi-functional communities where residential and commercial activity co-locates in mixed-use developments.

Creative placemaking meets the industrial world

Only five minutes from the center of Skövde is an industrial area larger than the city center itself, consisting of large gray concrete blocks and smoking chimneys. Something that takes the charm out of a city that is also a home for beautiful century-old houses. Relocating an industry of this size just to make the city atmosphere nicer is far too costly. The best thing is to have the technique of Mixed-use development in mind and embrace the large concrete facades and emphasize the city's historical heritage, culture, and population through art and creative creation. 

Skövde is a growing city, in order to grow properly, companies, citizens and the community need to work together and emphasize the beauty of what already exists. This is, for example, a great opportunity for Cementa, the many companies that are part of the industrial network Made In Skövde and the municipality of Skövde to work on something innovative together that would also include city residents.

From creative placemaking to a national landmark

Just imagine if a small town like Skövde became a home for one of Europe's largest street art festivals by transforming all the concrete walls into large canvases for the world's graffiti artists.

In the end, the companies involved, and the municipality will have a good story to use in their communication, they will get closer to the city's population and they will contribute to a better everyday environment for themselves and their surroundings. And when it comes to the residents, they will feel that they have more freedom and opportunity to influence their own city and therefore be able to proudly say "Hi, I live in Skövde. You should come here and visit.”