CURL | Discussions

Community Development and Engagement In Culture Led Initiatives

for
Sustainable Community Regeneration
Department of Sociology
D. and I. Hall, Lecturers
University of Liverpool
Liverpool
May 16, 2005

by
Lyla Peter
MBA Urban Regeneration

Article Abstract:

Exploring the role of culture as a tool to develop and renew the urban fabric, the author explores the changes that have been occurring in Liverpool since having been named the Capital of Culture 2008. Specifically the author looks at the role of community engagement in city development initiatives related to Liverpool’s unique musical culture.

Author Abstract:

Currently enrolled in the MBA Urban Regeneration Programme at the University of Liverpool, Lyla Peter has a strong interest in approaches to city development in different countries and contexts. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Regional and Urban Development from the University of Saskatchewan, Canada and spent three years three years in Washington, D.C. where she worked as a transportation planner.

Community Development and Engagement In Culture Led Initiatives

With Liverpool’s success in winning the title European capital of culture 2008, many have hoped that the long years of decay and deprivation that have plagued the city for much of the 20th century are now part of the past. The designation, which acts almost as an official European Union brand, is seen to be a catalyst for urban regeneration while providing an opportunity to showcase the city’s numerous cultural resources.

During Liverpool’s bid for the title, they estimated that over 12,000 new jobs would be created, visitors would double to 38 million and an additional £2 billion would be spent in the local economy. It was argued that the title would prove to be the base for an urban renaissance, getting Liverpool back on track after years of deprivation, poverty and societal exclusion.

However as funding streams have begun to be invested there have been various voices of criticism who suggest that the title has actually hindered development in the city. They argue that funding for core services has been diverted away from outlying neighbourhoods in favour of beautifying and promoting the city centre and that the city is not including the people’s vision into the city vision.

This criticism comes amid current thought, which suggests regeneration can only be successful if achieved through genuine community engagement and ownership of the process. With Liverpool’s city leaders facing competing interests, scarcity of resources and the need to better the entire community beyond 2008, how does the title reflect the community and development? Can we look to the past for guidance on culture as a community and urban development tool? Finally, can the past predict how competing interests may play out to create a successful urban renaissance?

Concert Square has paved the way for renewal in the city centre.

Liverpool has not always been faced with the immense challenges that urban deprivation brings. It was once known as the ‘Second City of the Empire’, with fortunes made in the slave, cotton and sugar trades throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. It was during this time that cultural facilities were first used as ‘regeneration’ tools, with urban cultural capital providing a measurement of status and identity.

Academics such as Stobart argue that cities have provided a space in which Marxist-type power struggles occur, where the urban elite can exercise their influence over the masses through infrastructure, opportunity and social relations. Additionally, the historic investments in urban cultural facilities (Grandiose town halls, civic squares, Theatres and parks) all provided status to the urban elite, providing them with the chance to impart their cultural ideas on the whole population.

Over time these iconic images of city life have come to shape urban identity. In Liverpool the magnificent St. George’s Square, flanked by impressive halls, the public library and museums, acts as the heart of the community. The phenomenon also existed in the USA, as exemplified through the City Beautiful Movement (with roots in Washington, DC and Chicago), where the Federal Mall serves as the prototypical example of architectural and cultural elitism, imposing order and beauty onto the general population.

Washington, D.C. Capitol Building: The Federal Mall serves as the core of American Cultural Institutions and was developed under the city renewal efforts of the City Beautiful Movement.

The spending on cultural capital was not limited to large infrastructure projects alone. Municipalities took steps to pave, cleanse and light streets to enhance the newly developed and highly fashionable areas of town. The improvements to the city provided the urban elite with a form of identifiable segregation from others. Differentiation of services was justified on the basis of culture, health and safety. It is not surprising that culture divides (High culture vs. that of popular culture) existed even then, and continue to characterise culture debates.

Health and quality of life concerns soon led to the wealthy fleeing the city centre. Mass exodus to suburbs and the diffusing of densities set the scene:
In Liverpool, the population has dropped from an all time high of 850, 000 people to the present 440, 000.

As the ill effects of urban sprawl have become apparent there has been a movement to create urban forums that provide equitable and sustainable opportunities. Both sustainability and equitability have proven to be challenging to define and even more difficult to identify. Added to these difficulties is the need to translate sustainability to the urban forum.

Richard Rogers suggested that sustainable cities were characterized by:

• A dense and polycentric form
• The presence of overlapping activity
• Equitability for residents
• Ecological services
• An open city
• A beautiful city where art, architecture and landscape move the city.

Public art, Penolope, is located in the both in the heart of regenerated neighbourhood The Rope Walks and in music club land. The statue reflects the history of the area and appeals to a younger, clubbing generation.

Rogers' definition suggests that a myriad of components create sustainability and importantly, sustainability involves culture. This bodes well for the city of Liverpool in their challenge of revitalization, as it acts as a justifiable clause for their focus on culture spending over possible other sources.

A somewhat contrasting definition of sustainability is the UK government’s most recent publication, the Egan Review:

Sustainable communities meet the diverse needs of existing and future residents, their children and other users, contribute to a high quality of life and provide opportunity and choice. They achieve this in ways that make effective use of natural resources, enhance the environment, promote social cohesion and inclusion and strengthen economic prosperity.

The Egan Review definition therefore does not mention culture as an important tool in community sustainability. Complicating Liverpool’s culture-led urban renewal is the multitude of issues that affect quality of life: Arguably meeting base human needs (of adequate food, shelter and safety) should take precedence over promoting civic art, cultural activities and opportunities. As such the definition acts to detract from cultural regeneration.

In light of these competing definitions it should be noted that Liverpool often cites sustainability as a crucial component in both the urban and cultural context, as exemplified by:

• NW Culture Consortium identified the need for balanced cultural objectives alongside sustainable development.
• The council has also stressed that community involvement in the 2008 process be maintained and fostered. To that end the first round of cultural grants, the Creative Communities Grants, were earmarked for local community arts groups.

While Liverpool seemingly champions sustainability, recent events may tend to side with the naysayers of Liverpool 2008: That is the cultural elite are once again dictating a vision for the city that does not represent the needs or desires of the residents. In addition the funding that has been earmarked for culture activities is not representative nor does it serve the base needs of residents.

Specifically related to the Liverpool’s music community, opponents to the 2008 title say the City’s vision undermines the current music culture and that recent developments do not adequately reflect the community’s needs and desires.

Street Musicians highlight
Liverpool’s music culture.

These feelings have been amplified with the recent announcement to close Quiggins, even after the council was presented with a community petition requesting the landmark remain open. The collection of small, independent shops was founded in 1986 and has since acted as a youth hangout, where bands play every weekend and underground culture is promoted.

Earmarked for demolition, Quiggins will be replaced by a newly constructed shopping development that will house chain stores, bringing Liverpool shopping in line with other major cities in the country. While the development will bring jobs to residents it provides an example of disparity on views of culture, progress and development. It also highlights an issue that suggests the council does not regard community involvement as important.

Also compromising the music culture is the recent council bylaw banning fly posting. In a city defined by the Fab Four, Echo and the Bunneymen, the La’s, and more recently the club night Cream, and acts such as the Zutons, the Coral and Ladytron, fly posting has served not only as advertising but also as a form of urban art. Many argue the bylaw serves to sanitize Liverpool while being detrimental to developing the music culture.

Fly posting, while banned continues to be a prolific form of advertisement on vacant city walls.

The recent announcement of the large scale housing clearance program in the Toxteth Neighbourhood also impacts the musical history of the city. Under the proposed initiative Ringo Starr’s first home (0 to 3 years) will be demolished. While over 70% of the affected residents favour the rebuild scheme, many people question the process, information and choices provided to obtain this approval.

Homes slated for clearance in the Toxteth neighbourhood.

As Liverpool 2008 progresses there is seemingly a lack of specific information on funding streams directed to the music community, or any other specific culture communities. Conversing with the funding manager of the Liverpool Culture Consortium, Steve Edwards, no indication was made that funding was being provided to promote local musical artists via grants, studio time, rehearsal space or promotional materials.

These examples do not mean that the music culture is losing out to high art or that the city elite are conforming their views to the masses. Funding has been directed to FACT, the landmark arts centre that is anchoring investment in the Rope Walks district. However it does appear that Liverpool’s musical culture and the subsequent alternate cultures may not be part of the city’s idealized vision.

FACT, a unique cultural institution is located in the Rope Walks neighbourhood.

What we can conclude is that regeneration is occurring in Liverpool and the 2008 title is playing a major role in development. The city stands to repeat its own history by promoting one vision and one defined culture if it does not adequately engage the community. Additionally the community must help define not only what culture is representative of Liverpool but to what extent cultural needs will be served over other base needs of community regeneration.