'Introduction to meanwhile use' is a starting point for anyone interested in finding out more about what meanwhile use is, and what you can do with it.

This online event will discuss some of the benefits and challenges of meanwhile. We'll summarise meanwhile use's position in town centre policy and the value of activating underused sites as part of the circular economy, and we'll talk about what kinds of buildings and locations work well for what kinds of projects. There are opportunities in Brighton & Hove to use meanwhile strategies to unlock the space that creative people need, and we will explore these opportunities through looking at some inspirational examples from the city and elsewhere.

Creativity and Meanwhile Use

'Introduction to meanwhile use' is the first event in the Brighton & Hove ABCD programme Creativity and Meanwhile Use in Brighton & Hove. The programme will introduce the opportunities for accessing space in the city from the perspective of creative and cultural user groups, as well as how asset holders including landlords, developers and agents can make spaces available. Enablers, including local authority officers, councillors and members of Brighton's business improvement district will also form part of the discussion around the wider benefits meanwhile use can bring to particular high streets and how it could meet challenges in a city where pressure on space is intense.

Brighton & Hove is a highly creative city, with culture and tourism at the heart of the economy. The creative and cultural industries - employing more than 16,000 people in Greater Brighton - suffered hugely through successive covid lockdowns, hit by cancelled work and closed spaces.

The city’s reputation as a creative innovator has long formed part of its identity and appeal, however the rapidly rising costs of living and working in the city risk pushing out the creative people on whom this reputation is built. If more is not done to increase access to space for the creative industries then the city will begin to lose its unique energy and character and culture and tourism will decline.

Meanwhile use is a tool that creatives can use to seek out and activate space. It can be colourful city centre pop-ups and high street shop takeovers. But in a city where these spaces are at a premium, it can also be a way to think about how to bring a diversity of spaces to the conversation and carve out opportunities from vacant sites, long-term vacant buildings, under-utilised upper floors and phased future developments. And it can seed creativity in under-served places. Not all user groups need prime location shop fronts - meanwhile use can find opportunities on secondary high streets for more impactful uses which bring activity and vibrancy to vacant spaces and local neighbourhoods, while covering costs for the landlord.

The thriving city centre commercial offer, relatively low levels of vacancy and difficulties accessing space, pose challenges for landlords, creatives and everyone who cares about the future of the city. How do the creative industries find the space they need to showcase, innovate, engage and ultimately grow? How can we utilise meanwhile and pop-up spaces to develop, test and grow these cultural and creative uses while looking for more permanent opportunities? How do projects access space to set up and deliver vibrant activities, and how do they do this safely?

Brighton & Hove's current prosperity and success is supported by the strength of its creative and cultural industries. These industries will move out unless we act now to to unlock spaces for them to continue to flourish and grow.

Designed and delivered by pioneering social enterprise Meanwhile Space, in partnership with charity Meanwhile Foundation, this series of three practical and inspirational online events confront assumptions and offer solutions to challenges. They will be supported by a practical downloadable toolkit for user groups interested in setting up their own meanwhile spaces and landlords considering letting properties for meanwhile uses.

ABCD for Cultural Recovery

The disruption of the pandemic brought together over 100 creatives in Brighton & Hove to explore how arts & culture can be more inclusive, sustainable and collaborative in the City in the future. This resulted in a recovery plan that runs to the end of 2022 and has so far raised over £350k for the cultural sector in the City. The plan is overseen by an independent group of people formed of a Governance Group and a series of Working Groups. Our aims are to create paid work and professional opportunities for creative workers in the City, to develop a more inclusive cultural offer and to encourage partnership working to strengthen the creative sector in the long term. Our partners include Brighton & Hove City Council, Arts Council England, Brilliant Brighton Business Improvement District, the Pebble Trust and many funded arts organisations in the City. To find out more and/or get involved visit cultureinourcity.com