The Dreary Christmas Lights of Sydenham Town
Re: The Dreary Christmas Lights of Sydenham Town
Hopping on the train at Forest Hill today, I saw their lovely tree, with lights, tinsel and baubles, with a nice sign indicating it was organised by The Forest Hill Society. Syd Soc should perhaps go take a look...
Re: The Dreary Christmas Lights of Sydenham Town
In addition to my other posts it's worth watching this, it's from the Federation Of Small Businesses about how Christmas lights make a difference. The ones in the video cost around 28k.:
http://fsbhq.tumblr.com/
Having just come back from the high street, another thing in addition to the Christmas lights that need a lot of help are the window displays. I know there was a competition this year, but it didn't really make much of an impact.
We have a creative community here, our local cllr is part of the Portas Pilot scheme and our local traders group, not to mention her work as Cabinet Member for Community Services which includes community development. We have an arts festival that supports local artists. I"m sure Chris would jump at the chance to support something like this.
Why not harness that. in other area shops have been matched with artists and designers to give them a makeover, do window displays or designs in the glass. Why not join the dots to make something that people will discuss, talk about and engage them? Surely local shops would love to be part of this, it can also help to build community.
The Portas scheme needs to infuse through the rest of the high street, traders need to take note and this is the time to do it.
A while back I offered to give a talk about our work with the Outer London fund, local branding and shops (for free in case Forest Hill resident want to make more baseless accusations), and possibly bring in visual merchandisers to give talk to traders about window displays. We have worked alongside visual merchandisers in a number of high street regeneration schemes across London. Surely there must be a way of harnessing the local talent to make a difference to the high street on a wider scale to how SEE3 is doing (which is brilliant).
If we think something like this is a good idea, how can we make it happen? Are you an artist, would you like to be involved? Anyone want to take a lead on this?
http://fsbhq.tumblr.com/
Having just come back from the high street, another thing in addition to the Christmas lights that need a lot of help are the window displays. I know there was a competition this year, but it didn't really make much of an impact.
We have a creative community here, our local cllr is part of the Portas Pilot scheme and our local traders group, not to mention her work as Cabinet Member for Community Services which includes community development. We have an arts festival that supports local artists. I"m sure Chris would jump at the chance to support something like this.
Why not harness that. in other area shops have been matched with artists and designers to give them a makeover, do window displays or designs in the glass. Why not join the dots to make something that people will discuss, talk about and engage them? Surely local shops would love to be part of this, it can also help to build community.
The Portas scheme needs to infuse through the rest of the high street, traders need to take note and this is the time to do it.
A while back I offered to give a talk about our work with the Outer London fund, local branding and shops (for free in case Forest Hill resident want to make more baseless accusations), and possibly bring in visual merchandisers to give talk to traders about window displays. We have worked alongside visual merchandisers in a number of high street regeneration schemes across London. Surely there must be a way of harnessing the local talent to make a difference to the high street on a wider scale to how SEE3 is doing (which is brilliant).
If we think something like this is a good idea, how can we make it happen? Are you an artist, would you like to be involved? Anyone want to take a lead on this?
Re: The Dreary Christmas Lights of Sydenham Town
I am not an artist, nor do I have the experience as well as connections to actually take a lead on this. But as offered before, you can count me in if people are needed to help next year in all sorts of ways to ensure we can walk in our high street and feel pride in what has been achieved.
By then the major renovation works will have been completed (hopefully with the promised trees which I also intend to fight for, that's for sure) and beautiful lighting as well as window displays will mark a significant change in our area. We must not let that opportunity go...
By then the major renovation works will have been completed (hopefully with the promised trees which I also intend to fight for, that's for sure) and beautiful lighting as well as window displays will mark a significant change in our area. We must not let that opportunity go...