Meeting in the Middle: Main and High Street placemaking, now and next

The conversation will focus on the future of the High Street and how to listen to stakeholders and work with partners and collaborators. Many in local government and administration put the focus on this and have good intentions, but may not know how to deliver it in practice to achieve the best results. Administrative structures may of course impinge this, alongside perceptual issues on both sides of administration and people, and there are issues of trust and over-consultation. In this sense, the conversation is inspired by the first event with IPM, Meeting in the Middle: how can you meet in the middle when there is no trust between community and the formal structure.

Of course, in the wake of COVID-19, the High Street is facing new challenges, and we will discuss this, as well as posit on new ideas/methods etc to save to transform the High Street. So what does High Street placemaking need to be in this setting in the long term?

This event will once again be hosted by IPM's Dr Steve Millington and newly appointed Senior Fellow Dr Cara Courage. The event will draw upon themes and authors from the Routledge Handbook of Placemaking.

Speaking Panel

James Lima, President of James Lima Planning + Development

Chapter: Placemaking as an Economic Engine for All, w/ Andrew J. Jones

Sean Peacock, PhD researcher based at Open Lab, Newcastle University

Chapter: Sensing our Streets: Involving Children in Making People-centred Smart Cities, w/ Aare Puussaar and Clara Crivellaro

Sarah Calderon, Managing Director of ArtPlace America

Chapter: A Future of Creative Placemaking, w/ Erik Takeshita

Kim Cook, Director of Creative Initiatives for Burning Man

Chapter: Listen, Connect, Act

To register: https://cara-courage.squarespace.com/config/pages/538e1e88e4b0b7e5894fbf0d