Creative projects in vacant spaces bring cities to life

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 7 December 2016

Creative projects in vacant spaces bring cities to life

2016 saw strong economic recovery in cities and towns across New Zealand. But there remain plenty of vacant spaces and a need to make sure that town and city centres represent local culture and diversity, says Mark Amery.

Amery is a manager of Urban Dream Brokerage, a service to place innovative arts, business start-up and community projects in vacant spaces in Wellington and Dunedin. Urban Dream Brokerage has also been working with property owners, councils and communities in Porirua and Masterton.

"Our town and city centres rely on people being involved to grow their identity and character. As the economy recovers it can be even harder for new ideas to find space," Mr Amery says.

Working with 35 property owners, the Urban Dream Brokerage has filled more than 55 vacant spaces with innovative creative projects in Wellington city, Porirua and Dunedin. The majority have lead to new tenancies.

“There have been 48 projects in Wellington alone, ranging from a ‘Moodbank’ – a place for Wellingtonians in a disused bank to register their moods – to a community-made giant iceberg, a koha café, an illuminated bike workshop and a “political hair salon”. In Dunedin recently over 3500 people in two weeks went to a Retro Games Museum in George Street, created from one man’s collection that usually fills two houses,” Mr Amery says.

Urban Dream Brokerage brings together commercial property owners with projects. Architect, property developer and current President of the Wellington Branch of the Property Council of New Zealand Mike Cole is a member of the Urban Dream Brokerage’s Advisory Board.

"The work of Urban Dream Brokerage creates a win-win for property owners and innovative projects,” Mr Cole says.

“These vacant properties are often then seen in a new light and leased post-event. Artists have a space for their projects which encourages diversity, a sense of community and public interaction in our cities.”

Recent 2016 Urban Dream Brokerage projects include the Lux Festival Light show Glade which attracted more than 5000 visitors to Clyde Quay Wharf, and in November a bold adaptation of a Shakespearean play set in the historic Grand Hall at the Public Trust Building, which has since been taken over by council as an Earthquake Response Centre.

“These uses of vacant space also provides a tangible way for property owners to contribute to the community,” Mr Amery says.

The Urban Dream Brokerage is always looking to bring together new projects and property owners. They take care of finding the right project for each property and ensure insurance, licensing and care for property are handled professionally and smoothly with minimum interruption.

For more information visit www.urbandreambrokerage.org or contact: Mark Amery, Manager of Urban Dream BrokeragePh. 027 3566 128mark@amery.net

ENDS

Notes to editors:

Urban Dream Brokerage was established in Wellington in late 2012 by public art and urban revitalisation organisation Letting Space. It is all out about connecting new ideas with vacant spaces to enliven our cities through public participation. It is funded by Wellington City Council and Wellington Community Trust. In Dunedin it is funded by Dunedin City Council.

Mike Cole is co-founder of Archaus Limited – an architectural practice responsible for many buildings round the heart of Wellington and co-founder of Vicinity Limited – a property development company. He is current President of the Wellington Branch of the Property Council of New Zealand.

55 innovative creative, community and business start-up projects have been placed in over 30 spaces in Wellington, Porirua and Dunedin.

The service has worked with more than 35 property owners, from some of New Zealand’s largest to its smallest, who have recognised the benefits of not letting their spaces lie vacant and the contribution they make to the development of urban centres.

The programme is receiving recognition throughout NZ and internationally, where it is part of a movement which sees similar schemes in place through Australia, the UK and Europe.

Urban Dream Brokerage is always open for proposals from arts and community groups, or anyone with new creative ideas for the use of vacant space.

Urban Dream Brokerage welcomes enquires from property owners regarding vacant space they would like activated through arts and community projects.

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