Urban Fallow

‘Urban Fallow’ focuses on areas of urban land currently vacant possibly as a result of businesses closing down, stalled redevelopment or delays in securing funding.  The project will reanimate these areas of land by offering them for use by artists, architects, performers and other professionals with an interest in engaging with the public to develop temporary events and interventions.  As well as transforming the spaces and reducing urban blight, this project could also have the effect of reinvigorating interest and potential investment in the spaces, encouraging developers and local authorities to look at them again with renewed creativity and optimism.

This urban equivalent of fallow fields has taken on greater significance recently due to the effect of the economic recession on construction and redevelopment. It is important that these spaces, many of which are significant in both scale and location are not allowed to deteriorate and damage the public perception of a place. The project aims to develop a pragmatic but fluid approach to public access, cultural intervention, use and temporary transformation of urban spaces. The project is being developed in Eastleigh, Andover, Basingstoke and Winchester. We have secured funding to develop a fully costed programme of artist interventions across the four towns. We are now seeking funding for delivery of the programme in 2011.

The programmes will demonstrate how a range of quality artistic interventions can maintain a lively and energized location and profile potential for future development.  Local communities will be facilitated to have a stake in thinking around their town and city spaces, building a sense of ownership and understanding of the context for development to maximise the potential of these spaces for long term, successful futures.

Urban Fallow is funded by Arts Council England, Test Valley Borough Council, Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council, Eastleigh Borough Council and Winchester City Council.