Ideas: People: Places.
Confluence is one of seven projects across Wales supported through the Arts Council of Wales strategic initiative Ideas: People: Places.
The overall aims of the initiative are:
- To embed the arts in a genuine and meaningful way in a small number of imaginative, ambitious and innovative regeneration projects.
- To explore new ways of working that generate cross sector collaboration, test new ideas and partnerships and inspire communities to re-imagine their environment in a creative and empowered way.
- To test new models of regeneration and collaboration through the arts.
- To champion quality in both the design and the execution of projects.
Whilst there are many well known examples of the arts contributing to regeneration in cities much less is known about the contribution they can make in small towns. Through an experimental programme called the Lab, linked to a series of artist commissions, the Confluence project aims to develop a model for arts led regeneration in small towns in Wales.
Embedded in the Confluence programme is an evaluation framework developed with PRAXIS a local consultancy. Four key areas have been identified to measure progress towards the desired outcome, which are:
- Changing people’s perceptions of Haverfordwest
- Numbers of people engaging with the programme and giving positive feedback
- Increasing people’s understanding of what art can be
- Support and commitment of key decision makers for arts and regeneration
To follow the story chronologically, view the timeline which documents the project from the announcement of Ideas: People: Places, through to the present day.
Creating a baseline to measure change
During the pilot phase and throughout the first year people were invited in a variety of ways to contribute their views and opinions to create a baseline from which change can be measured over time. The baseline indicates that, whilst there are lots of things that people value about the town, in common with many towns across the UK, Haverfordwest is perceived as having suffered from a long-term decline because of:
- Changing shopping habits – move to on-line and out of town shopping
- High business rates leading to an over reliance on charity shops
- Lack of investment, understanding of and interest in the arts
- Poor planning decisions and a lack of a coherent vision for the future
- A lack of engagement opportunities leading to people feeling disempowered
- Changes in the rural economy having a negative effect on the town
Inspired by recent successes such as the skate park and Haverfoodfest there is also evidence that things are beginning to change …
The Confluence Stage 1 report – a summary of the pilot project undertaken in 2014 informs the baseline study along with a range of additional material collected during year 1, which can be seen here
Changing perceptions
What people are thinking and feeling about a place and how this is communicated in the press and social media are central to changing perceptions. The collection of posts here document activity and point the way to how people’s views of Haverfordwest may be changing.
Feedback on the programme
More than 5000 attendances have been recorded to date at over 60 different events. Find out more about the programme and the feedback received in a selection of posts here
What art can be
In a geographically remote and rurally isolated community, people’s exposure to contemporary arts practice can be very limited. See a selection of posts exploring the work undertaken by commissioned artists along with feedback on how this has increased people’s understanding of what art can be here
Support for art and regeneration
For the programme to succeed in the long-run it needs support from key decision makers. See a selection of event and activity reports aimed at building support for the role of arts and regeneration here
Stories of change
As the project draws to the end of this current phase, Karen Scott from Confluence partner PLANED, talked to seven stakeholders who have engaged with the partnership in different ways and at different levels, to find out what they think the most significant changes have been. Find out more about them and their stories of change here
Report cards
At the end of each of the three years all the evidence that has been gathered will be analysed and drawn together to produce a report card highlighting progress with each of the four key performance measures as well as identifying priorities for the future.
View the Year 1 report card here
View the Year 2 report card here
View the Year 3 report card here
Online questionnaire
Working with the help of Analytical Volunteers from the Office for National Statistics an online questionnaire was devised and disseminated in April 2018. More than 100 responses were received and the full report can be seen here
Project report
On 30 June 2018 the project offocially came to an end with an event to celebrate the installation of Cleddau Reaches, a new public artwork on the river. A report of the 3 year project can be viewed as a download here
Featured Image: Drawing from the river – Illustration by Jack Wheatley
