The Perth community is being invited to help develop designs to reimagine the creative hub at Perth Creative Exchange.
The Perth Creative Exchange Pocket Places project aims to work with tenants of the Exchange, as well as the local community, to create an inviting, flexible and social public space at the site on Stormont Street.
The project’s objectives are to strengthen the entrance ways for people arriving on foot, by bike or by wheelchair, to create a flexible event space with seating on the upper level and to create a community garden on the lower level.
Additionally, project partners are keen to create outdoor gallery spaces which connect both levels, and raise the profile of Perth Creative Exchange locally through wayfinding and signage.
The project is led by Sustrans Scotland, in partnership with Scotland’s national provider of studios Wasps, North Inch and Muirton Community Council and Perth and Kinross Council.
Community engagement events will take place in the local area throughout the course of the project, providing local people who will benefit from the transformation of the space, with the opportunity to share their ideas and views.
Events will take place between this winter during the ‘discover’ phase, in spring during the ‘design’ phase, and in summer, during the ‘deliver’ phase.
The first of these events will be held on Saturday, February 19, from 11am-4pm at the Creative Exchange on Stormont Street.
Chair of North Inch and Muirton Community Council Grace Sharkey said: “We’re very enthusiastic about the development of a community garden at Perth Creative Exchange.
“Conceived during the isolation of the 2020 COVID lockdown, we worked with Wasps to consider how we could transform the outdoor space to better reflect the new function of the building and to help bring people - artists who have studios in the building, local residents, school pupils - together to create a space celebrating what’s possible when a community comes together.”
Grace added: “For this, we’re so glad to have the expertise of Sustrans staff to encourage and guide us in a collaborative co-design process where the end result will be very much influenced by our combined knowledge and expertise.”
Perth and Kinross Council environment and infrastructure convener Councillor Angus Forbes said: “Perth Creative Exchange is an award-winning building and this is an exciting project that will create an outdoor space to match.
“I’d urge everyone interested to visit Perth Creative Exchange on February 19 so they can help shape this fantastic project moving forward.”
Project lead for Sustrans Scotland Lavanya Balasubramanian concluded: “This event is part of a series of engagement activities for the project, and we are keen to meet as many local people as possible and hear their ideas on how the grounds of Perth Creative Exchange could be transformed into a valuable public space for tenants and the community.
“Perth Creative Exchange is a hub for creativity, and this project aims to work with the local community to design outdoor spaces which complement that same ethos.
“We encourage anyone with a connection or interest in the area to come along and share their knowledge and ideas.”
To complete the short community survey to help shape and develop the project designs and project evaluation until Monday, February 21 go to:
https://sustrans.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/perth-creative-exchange-pocket-places-baseline-community-s
Paper copies of the survey are available in and can be returned to Perth Creative Exchange, open Wednesday to Friday 9am-1pm and 2-5pm.
