Truly revitalising city centres like Aberdeen’s requires bringing something new, local and unique to the high street, writes Sally Reaper of Look Again, Gray’s School of Art’s creative unit.
In the aftermath of Covid, and with the economic challenges affecting us all, a great deal of city centre space lies vacant – but it needn’t be that way.
We can reimagine our urban spaces and find ways to revitalise Aberdeen centre. We need to recode the city centre, so that community groups have a bigger role, and so that we can bring the area’s soul back.
One of the biggest challenges small businesses face are start-up rates. Rents are often too high, and the legalities too cumbersome.
If we are to move forward from this problem, locally or nationally, there has to be a change to the rateable value. We need peppercorn rates and regulations revised, creating incentives.
Only by investing in our creative communities and by developing sustainable, affordable city centre living and workspaces can we provide small businesses and creatives with the opportunity to be present in our city centres.
Having this community alive and active can help lead the way to develop a different narrative, creating new behaviours and, ultimately, impacting on the economic drive of a fresh type of high street experience.
Working together to transform and create
Gray’s School of Art’s creative unit at Robert Gordon University, Look Again, is leading a project to do just that. Culture Aberdeen brings together the city’s cultural organisations, which are working with creatives and experimental start-up businesses to fill unused city centre units with exhibition spaces, art installations and pop-up shops, supported by short-term leases.
The project is supported by £150,000 funding from Aberdeen City Council’s Local Authority Covid Economic Recovery Fund, and offers fresh hope and new opportunities for creatives to get a foothold in the city centre.
Working collaboratively with old and new business partners, freelance artists, Culture Aberdeen members and city centre communities, part of the plan is to transform empty shop units on Schoolhill.
From recycling to retail pop-ups
Deemouth Artist Studios (DAS) will take over a vacant space on Upperkirkgate, launching EDIT, a new retail pop-up. DAS, which is currently located in Torry, will bring its studio tenants into the heart of the city.
A second shop, set up by Aberdeen based start-up Origin, will create a highly visible recycling centre called Origin Hub, where local plastic waste can be collected, recycled and transformed into something useful.
A third shop, called DEPARTMNT has already opened, bringing a department store-style retail shop to Gaelic Lane.
By investing in creative businesses, we can empower communities to play a leading role in Aberdeen. That will have a lasting impact on the fabric of the city, contributing to the overall prosperity and economic vitality of the region, and raising the profile of the region’s cultural offering.
Sally Reaper is co-director of Look Again, Gray’s School of Art’s creative unit
Conversation