arts|generate
Arts Council England
Banner: Neon sculpture on seafront at Southend, designed by Vong Phaophanit and Claire Oboussier, manufactured by Neon Circus
Photographer: Dougal Waters
Artist: Vong Phaophanit and Clare Oboussier

Landing stage
Landing stage at Tilbury Docks (from 'A Different Light')
Photographer: Richard Heeps
Firstsite people
Detail from design concept for firstsite:newsite in Colchester
Lifelines

Welcome to www.artsgenerate.org.uk

Arts in urban development

The East of England is Britain’s fastest growing region. Its population is set to increase from 5.5 million to over 6 million by 2012. Arts Council England, East has taken the initiative to build ambitious partnerships that will deliver prosperous and cohesive communities both by harnessing the power of the arts and by building cultural infrastructure into the fabric of new developments. Major projects include:

  • the relocation of the Royal Opera House’s production facilities to a new state of the art campus alongside a new National Skills Academy for the creative and cultural sector
  • development of the UK’s first dedicated centre for carnival arts in Luton
  • Firstsite, a new purpose build arts complex for Colchester

Vibrant Places - Read about the role of the arts in urban development and Arts Council England East's part in helping communities shape their future.

Vibrant Places brochure (PDF, 1.26Mb)

arts|generate

arts|generate was Arts Council England East’s partnership scheme with local authorities and the Local Government Arts Forum (LGAF).  Launched in 2002, the first phase focused on arts led regeneration projects in areas of deprivation including Thurrock, Southend, Great Yarmouth, Luton and South Bedfordshire. Six sub-regional projects comprised the second phase and run until 2007/08. The learning from the arts|generate work is summarised on this site and has informed Arts Council East’s current approach to arts in urban development.

Programmes running to 2007/08

Documents