July 2018
We are hosting artist Emily Speed as part of In Certain Places’ The Expanded City Project. In the first week of the Model Village! project, more than 160 schoolchildren from across Preston have helped to construct a temporary model village at our Waterside development in Cottam, Preston.
Emily is exploring what would people’s dream place to live or play in look like? School children, young people and members of the public are being invited to sculpt with coloured clay to build their ideal home, and make their mark on the village by creating, extending, squashing or customising its buildings, trees, parks and streets.
Emily Speed has researched informal leisure spaces in Preston and, through conversations with city planners and on-the-ground research with communities, she has explored approaches to leisure provision. She is interested in the relationship between formal and informal spaces and the interface between public and private space within new housing developments. Emily will be working with members of the public, including local residents and school pupils of all ages to construct this collaborative vision in clay bricks on a currently vacant plot at Story Homes’ Waterside development, Cottam.
Model Village? is kindly supported by Story Homes and is part of The Expanded City, a three-year programme of artistic research, interventions and events, designed to inform a series of planned infrastructure projects on the outskirts of Preston. Part of Preston’s ‘City Deal’ – a central government initiative which aims to encourage economic growth by addressing strategic infrastructure challenges – the scheme includes the creation of over 17,000 houses as well as new roads and amenities.
The Expanded City is a three-year programme of artistic research, interventions and events, designed to inform a series of planned infrastructure projects on the outskirts of Preston. Part of Preston’s ‘City Deal’ – a central government initiative which aims to encourage economic growth by addressing strategic infrastructure challenges – the scheme includes the creation of over 17,000 houses as well as new roads and amenities.
Charles Quick, Professor Public Art Practice at In Certain Places, said: “The school sessions in the first week of the Model Village? project have been extremely successful. We have worked with more than 160 children, aged between 7 and 14 on site drawing, making and contributing ideas to the building of the village.
“The Story Homes team at Waterside have been really great – welcoming, helpful and friendly and this couldn’t have worked so well without all their help. We’d like to say a sincere thank you.
“We look forward now to our public open days this week and watching this amazing construction grow.”
Sales Manager Clare Wilson said: “We are delighted to be working with In Certain Places and UCLAN on the second project as part of InCertain Place’s The Expanded City, at our Waterside development in Cottam, which is one of 11 strategic sites identified in the City Deal.
“It’s important to explore the relationship between people and the places in which we live in, and to see the changing landscape of Preston City and its surrounding area.
“It’s been great to see these young people engaging in this project and building their own model village.”
Model Village? activity is free and suitable for all ages. Drop in at any time during specific opening hours to take part, or simply to have a look at the village and to chat to us about what you think makes a good place to live, play and socialise in.
Here’s how you can get involved: There are drop-in sessions being held :
Waterside, off Cottam Way, Preston, PR4 0EP (next to the site office).
Tue 17th July 4.00 – 5.30pm
Wed 18th July 4.00 – 5.30pm
Exhibition of completed village
Fri 20th July 11.00am – 5.00pm
Sat 21st July 11.00am – 3.00pm
