About

This research project will investigate the informal creative economy (such as guided walks, ad-supported blogs and community-generated tourism or marketing materials) that has grown up around cultural heritage projects and its role in developing the well-being of communities. The participating researchers will work with members of diverse communities based in four distinctive locations (London, Oxford, Sheffield and N Yorkshire/Teesside) where innovative cultural heritage activity is taking place. Through a series of workshops blending discussion and practical tasks, key issues in developing a vibrant informal creative economy around local heritage will be analysed by active participants from the four neighbourhoods. The final workshop will record the learning in multimedia form for use with policy-makers and publics interested in generating an informal creative economy based on place.

Here is our programme of events (subject to change)

• April 2011 Discursive/creative workshop: Finding an Audience for our Wealth of Media
• June 2011 Discursive/creative workshop: Casting Social Divides as Spice rather than Insurmountable Difference
• August 2011 Discursive/creative workshop: Handling Local Personalities as Tourist Attractions
• September 2011 Practical Workshop: Creating case studies in promoting an informal creative economy around cultural practices.
• October-November 2011 Researchers and community participants collaborate to write guides, construct website and produce academic papers. Thompson attends the Community Informatics conference to disseminate early findings and share website.