Creative Cities: Innovation for Urban Challenges: Welcome and Opening Briefing

21.03.2010

Tony O’Brien, British Council Director Poland, welcomed 60-plus delegates to the Creative Cities: Innovation for Urban Challenges conference at the Centre for Contemporary Arts at Ujazdowski Castle, Warsaw, on Sunday 21^st March.

‘Social entrepreneurs’ from all over the world – some from as far as Thailand – gathered to share experiences and learn from each other in an event designed to emphasise practical learning rather than the theory and philosophy of social enterprise.

David Barrie, conference programme author and principal consultant at David Barrie & Associates, a UK production company specialising in the creation and delivery of urban renewal programmes, gave the opening briefing under the heading: ‘How to make innovation happen in our cities? The Missing Manual’.

David’s slideshow illustrated several of his inspirational urban renewal projects in the UK, including the creation of a footbridge across a river; the exciting redevelopment of a drab town square; the installation of a vibrant playground in a vandalised park; and the creation of ‘The People’s Supermarket’ – a grocery store run by and for local people – due to launch in six weeks.

The catalyst for the success of such projects was often the desperate desire of local people to make a change for the better in their local environments, said David. Successful projects spring from a real need, the right context that reveals itself after talking to local people extensively and finding out their concerns.

Some projects, such as his ‘urban farming’ project in Middlesborough, North East England, also have a social policy slant, such as promoting healthier lifestyles. Unused green spaces across the city were transformed into mini-farms where communities grew their own produce, learned how to cook, and shared meals in a public setting as well.

David urged his fellow social entrepreneurs to have patience – projects can take years to reach fulfilment – and make the most of other corporate or government developments that are happening and use them as a springboard for their own projects. He also encouraged people to think big.

“Be epic”, he said. “Have a big, clear story that inspires people. We want to change the world. When we look out of a window we want to see something that lifts our hearts.”

He also advised delegates to make the most of their networks and treat this conference as a ‘garage’ where people could ‘get under the bonnet and look at the wiring’ of what everyone did.

“Listen and learn from each other”, he said. “The experience collected here in this room is awesome.”