Urban Room Blackburn (U.R.

B) 21
st
October 2014
AGENDA http://blackburnisopen.co.uk/events/urbanroomblackburn/
Blackburns inaugural Urban Room has been set up as an experimental pilot and begins today with a
deliberately fluid and peripatetic exploration of !idden Blackburn roots and future vision" before
debating how the towns new Blackburn is #pen $Bi#% initiative might engage with key
recommendations coming out of the newly published &arrell Review" which calls for far more
enhanced community engagement within our architecture and public realm.
REG!"#RA#!ON$ Blackburn %s O&en Art%st'all ((rom 1)$00)
'nformal registration and reception for our specially invited (') guests will be in the new Bi# pop*up
arts centre" starting anytime from +,.-- onwards" and here you will have time to explore this new
public facility and en.oy the Urban Room retrospective exhibition of /rtistcall" the towns ongoing
artists*in*residence school programme curated by architect and public art consultant 'an Banks.
0his has involved ++ varied artists commissioned shared between 1 secondary schools 2 all newly
built or refurbished as part of the Building 3chools for the &uture programme. / range of artforms will
on display including visual art and films and a complimentary exhibition guide will be supplied to all
guests. &rom here" you will be personally escorted .ust around the corner to 4i5n4ils 6af7 for our
more formal welcome and high tea. 'f you are running late for whatever reason" please go straight to
4i5n4ils.
*E+'O,E$ +%-.n.+%l.s (1/$00 1/$00)
/ reception for the Blackburn Urban Room will begin at 4i5n4ils from +8.-- onwards" where
complimentary refreshments and a hearty northern tea will be on offer to our (') guests. 9very effort
will be made to cater for all tastes" but do please do let us know of any special dietary needs
beforehand. /ll drinks served will be non*alcoholic.
0he main proceedings will then start here at around +8.+," beginning with a warm welcome from
:ayne !emingway of !emingway ;esign" and a brief introduction into his collaborative role
alongside Blackburn with ;arwen B6 in creating a new mo.o for the town centre called Blackburn is
#pen.
URBAN ROO, B+A'1BURN$ "t 2o3ns 'entre (14$00 20$00)
:ith arrivals here starting from around +<:--" the 3t. =ohns 6entre will form an impressive venue for
an inaugural Urban Room for Blackburn" and marks the beginnings of a year*long pilot of >uarterly
events. Both invited guests and general public alike will be welcomed beforehand with some drinks
from a )op*Up Bar set up in the lobby.
0his first Urban Room will be chaired by architect )hilip 0hornton of etcurban" now 4ondon based but
born locally. 0he evening will be split up into ? parts" and comprising the following:
+. :elcome to Blackburn is #pen
@. (ision for Blackburn 0alks plus AB/
BR9/C
D. Recommendations of the &arrell Review of /rchitecture and the Built 9nvironment
?. )anel discussion into the notion of a Eew Urban Room for BlackburnF
*E+'O,E #O B+A'1BURN !" O5EN 14.00
http://www.hemingwaydesign.co.uk/pro.ects/urban*design/blackburn*is*open
/ :elcome from :ayne !emingway will start at approximately +<:-- and will run for approximately +,
minutes. /s new guests will have arrived at this point" :ayne will outline again" but in a little more
detail this time" both the vision for Blackburn is #pen as well as a background to his and !emingway
;esigns core philosophy that Gdesign is about improving things that matter in lifeG.
:ayne !emingway will discuss the approaches being planned over the next three years" to work with
Blackburn with ;arwen B6 to develop a sustainable art programme. !e will explain his stated
philosophy that everyone needs to work together to make and keep Blackburns town centre at the
centre of a community experience.
A 6!"!ON (OR B+A'1BURN 14.1)
'ntroduced by our 6hair for the evening )hilip 0hornton" will involve three short talks that look to
highlight synergies between a Blackburn creatively looking backwards as well as one looking forward.
/rchitectural ;irector of etcurban" )hilip 0hornton originates from Blackburn and now splits his time
between 4ondon and the E:. !is practice etcurban is an architecture and design collaboration based
in 4ondon" )reston and Hanchester" and describe themselves as being Iabout people and places"
spaces and inhabitationJ.
0he presentations will be followed by a short AB/ session at the end of both" involving the speakers
and :ayne !emingway and chaired by )hilip 0hornton. 0he two talks are:
Otto "aumare- "m%t3 +ancas3%re Goes 5o&$ ,o7ern%sm 8 5ol%t%cs %n 'entral Blackburn %n t3e
19/0s 14.2)
http://docomomo*uk.co.uk/event/lancashire*goes*pop*modernism*politics*in*central*blackburn*in*the*
+K8-s/
/cademic #tto 3aumare5 3mith has a research interest in architectural history and urban history" and
in a recreation of his Hay @-+? talk organised by ;ocomomo UC" here he will be exploring again the
history of the modernist Blackburn 3hopping 6entre designed by the $then% )reston based
architectural firm Building ;esign )artnership. !e will argue again that British modernism played out
in distinct ways in its local provincial settings Iwith architectural culture .ig*sawing with the local
ambitions and concerns of an industrial cityJ.
'arol:n Butter;ort3< "3e==%el7 "c3ool o= Arc3%tecture$ >re?create Blackburn 14.4)
http://www.livepro.ects.org/
)art of 3heffield University 3chool of /rchitectures $33o/% 4ive )ro.ects strand" LreMcreate Blackburn
was a collaborative pro.ect in @-+D between 33o/ and Blackburn with ;arwen B6.
6oordinated by 6aroyn Butterworth" this included an 1 month 4iveworks studio base comprising of
two pro.ectsN a 8 week live pro.ect titled LreMcreate Blackburn and a 8 month residency. !ere" 6arolyn
outlines the three strategies produced during this creative process" which link to findings as well as a
new creative town plan for the future. 0hese strategies work on different scales and encompass the
introduction of digital fabrication technology" facilitating enterprises and reinforcing connections with
Blackburns history. 6arolyn will also talk about the recent exhibition and book launch.
"ara @%lton< @+(< Ne; !7eas =or Ol7 Bu%l7%nAs 1B.1)5,
http://www.hlf.org.uk/about*us/media*centre/press*releases/lottery*investment*unlock*commercial*
potential*five*unused
3ara !ilton is !ead of !eritage 4ottery &und $!4&%" Eorth :est. !4& has announced more than
O+@million of UC*wide funding to transform five important but neglected historic buildings back to
commercial use" creating economic growth in five local areas and an estimated @D- &09 .obs by
attracting private investment. 0his is part of a wider investment of at least O+@,million over the next
five years.
BREA1 1B.00
5@!+!5 #@ORN#ON 19.00 *elcome back a=ter t3e break an7 %ntro7uct%on to ,aC (arrell
RE'O,,ENDA#!ON" O( #@E (ARRE++ RE6!E*
/s a precursor to the concluding debate" the third part of the evening will start at approximately +K.--
and will involve an introduction into the recommendations of the current review of architecture and the
built environment as directed by 9d (ai5ey" Hinister of 3tate for 6ulture and the ;igital 9conomy in
the ;epartment for 6ulture" Hedia and 3port $;6H3%. 0he presentation will be made by Hax &arrell
one of the key authors of this national review. #ther members of his review panel may also be present
and will be confirmed on the night.
,aC (arrell #3e (arrell ReD%e; 19.00
http://www.terryfarrell.co.uk
http://www.farrellreview.co.uk/
9stablished by architect 3ir 0erry &arrell" &arrells are considered to be the UCs leading architect
planners with offices in 4ondon" !ong Cong and 3hanghai. 'n @-+D they were invited to establish an
esteemed creative panel to undertake a national review of architecture by Hinister 9d (ai5ey.
/ year in the making" and recently published" this &arrell Review of /rchitecture and the Built
9nvironment $&/R% has sought contributions from government" institutions" agencies" industry and
the public alike. 't has made over 8- recommendations spanning early education in schools"
professional education" adult outreach" skilling up decision makers" proactive planning and design
>uality" cultural heritage" economic benefits and built environment policy. 0his 6all for /ction is still at
an early stage of course" but is now looking to gain critical momentum in a number of delivery areas.
!ere" &arrells partner Hax &arrell will introduce the core thinking behind the &/R recommendations
and what it hopes to achieve in the long term. )art of this vision includes a call for each town and city
to have an Urban Room where the community can engage with their architecture" and this particular
element is of particular interest to Blackburn is #pen.
A NE* URBAN ROO, (OR B+A'1BURNE 19.1)
0he concluding part of the evening will start at approximately +K:+, and will involve a chaired panel
discussion and AB/ session with the audience that looks for common stands or conflicts between the
ideas expressed by the invited speakers. :ith the assistance of the chair )hilip 0hornton" the session
will look to conclude with any creative consensus agreed" along with recommendations for Blackburn
is #pen and its possible new Urban Room.
'@A!R" "U,,ARF AND '+O"E 20.00
6ENUE !N(OR,A#!ON
B%O 5o&U& Arts 'entre
http://blackburnisopen.co.uk
8D*8, Cing :illiam 3treet" BB+ <;0
0he new Blackburn is #pen )op*Up /rt Pallery with attached cinema space is a key part of the
Revitalising Blackburn 0own 6entre strategy which aims to Iimprove the night time economy" utilise
under*used spaces and empty shops to host arts activities and improve the perception of the town
centre by providing a high >uality and family*friendly event programmeJ. 6lick on Poogle Hap for
further directions.
;etails on the /rtist6all exhibition can be seen on www.artistcall.net
+%-.n.+%l.
https://twitter.com/4i5E4ils
4ocation: +-1 Eorthgate" BB+ <;0
=ust around the corner from the Blackburn is #pen shop" 4i5n4ils 6af7 offers a wide range of freshly
prepared" homemade food as well as a range of tea" coffee and cakes. 4i5n4ils is based on the
corner of Cing :illiam 3treet B Eorthgate B within easy reach of all town centre car parks. 't is a +-
minute walk from the main rail B bus stations. 6lick on Poogle Hap for further directions.
"t 2o3ns 'entre
http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/4/E/Blackburn/3t=ohnthe9vangelist.shtml
4ocation: 3t. =ohns 6entre" 3t. =ohns )lace" BB+ 8;:
#riginally 3t =ohn the 9vangelist" the church was originally founded in +<11 at a cost of O1"---. 't was
enlarged and improved in +1?1 and subse>uently Prade @ listed in +K,+. 't was deconsecrated in
+K<," after which it has continued to serve as an important civic*minded asset for Blackburn" and as
housed a range of voluntary and community minded organisations over the years including the
6iti5ens /dvice Bureau.
Eow known as the 3t =ohns 6entre this important community*led future is happily continuing with the
imminent relocation to the building of local community arts organisation /ction &actory" and plans to
utilise the space for a range of public events. /s such" the inaugural Urban Room for Blackburn is
#pen also provides an opportunity to debate the past and future of Blackburns architecture and
public realm at a key moment in the history of this much*loved local building. 6lick on Poogle Hap for
further directions.
5ark%nA
'nformation on parking in the town can be downloaded here:
https://www.blackburn.gov.uk/)ages/)arking*in*Blackburn*town*centre.aspx