Famous designer hosted inspirational events

We are delighted that inspirational British designer Wayne Hemingway is working with us as an ambassador to pioneer a major cultural festival celebrating our Great Place.

The co-founder of award winning multi-disciplinary designers, HemingwayDesign, and whose first brand was Red or Dead, hosted two interactive events in Skipton and Kendal to get people involved in planning an arts and heritage-based event to highlight everything valued by the younger members of our community. It is hoped that the event will help put the Lakes and Dales at the forefront of location choice for aspirational younger people looking for a vibrant and exciting place to call home.

Said Wayne: “The area has an incredible 44% fewer 16 to 34 year olds than the national average so it’s vital more is done to safeguard the future economy. The events, called ‘This Is The Place’ were designed to start setting up a ‘placemaking’ project, which will be at the heart of celebrating the cultural distinctiveness of the area and the reasons why younger people might aspire to put down roots here.

“We had two fantastic evenings with packed rooms full of creatives, innovators and pioneers – all bursting with ideas of how culture and young people can be at the heart of planning and shaping the area’s future.”

Programme director Lindsey Hebden was delighted with the enthusiasm shown at the gatherings.

She said: “Momentum is well underway to deliver an impactful, engaging and exciting cultural event of major regional and national significance next autumn. There were some fantastic ideas and interesting opinions put forward.”

Councillor Richard Foster, leader of Craven District Council, who took part in the Skipton evening, said: “This was an exciting and interesting event and it was good to see so many people come together in Skipton to discuss how we can attract and retain more young people to the Lakes and Dales. There were a lot of young people at this event and it was great to hear what they had to say.

“We’re very keen to hear the ideas of local people to get them involved too. We have some amazing success stories already and it was inspiring to hear some of their ambitions for the future. We look forward to working with our partners to move this project forward and make a real difference to the future of the Lakes and Dales.”

South Lakeland District Council portfolio holder for culture and leisure, Councillor Chris Hogg, said: “Having someone with Wayne Hemingway’s reputation speaking to our creative and cultural sector about how we can use culture to retain and attract younger people to your area is hugely significant. His presentation has inspired interesting conversations already and I’m sure GPLD will be able to use these as a basis to develop our cultural offer and to make it more appealing to young people. Our ambition is clearly to be innovators and leaders in the rural cultural sector.”

Wayne added: “I am proud to support GPLD – which will put the needs and aspirations of younger people front of mind. It’s vital more is done to safeguard the future economy.”

As well as building on the cultural distinctiveness of the Lakes and Dales through a series of events, workshops and support for existing projects, GLPD is also looking at influencing local policy and planning to make the area more attractive for younger people to live and work.

Anyone interested in taking part in This is the Place, who couldn’t make the events but still wishes to be involved, can contact GPLD on greatplace@cravendc.gov.uk