Culture project aims for town centre to 'flourish'

A project is under way to encourage more people in the arts industry to help redevelop a town centre.

Flourish will use £165,000 to help bring jobs and greater economic and community activity to Gateshead.

The funding will support creative and cultural workers who are employed independently or as freelancers.

Dr Rebecca Prescott, from Northumbria University's Newcastle Business School, said Flourish aimed to create a "more dynamic and inclusive creative and cultural environment".

The project brings together 10 years of cooperation between Northumbria and Newcastle universities, the National Trust, Tyne & Wear Building Preservation Trust and Gateshead Council.

It is being financed by levelling up funding awarded to the Labour-led local authority.

Research will be carried out with artists and local businesses to understand the challenges and opportunities that could lead to a more prosperous town centre.

Money will be set aside to encourage people and businesses to take part in the study which is designed to further enhance the research.

Dr Prescott said it was important for Flourish to get "buy-in" so they could "understand what support they need to set up their businesses and enterprises".

“What we want to see in terms of impact from this research is greater activity in the town centre, increased footfall and dwell time," she added.

It is hoped the creative and cultural sectors can feed into the wider development taking place in the area, with the recommendations being released in May 2025.

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