University of Manchester academic puts research into practice to reinvigorate culture in Southport
A University of Manchester academic whose research focuses on the long-term development of institutions, communities and places is putting his research into practice in one of England鈥檚 best known seaside towns.
For the past five years, Dr Eric Lybeck has been working with communities in Southport to develop The Arcade Project, a cultural programme and community space within the town鈥檚 historic Grade II Listed Wayfarers Arcade. A community caf茅 space called The Engine Room, located within the Arcade, has become the venue for music, arts, craft and heritage activities co-developed with local people.
Now the story so far of the development of The Arcade Project is being told in a comic play called 鈥楤est Practice鈥�, exploring the challenges of trying to make things happen in an ordinary town. The performance takes place on Friday 19th June and tickets can be booked . The play is part of a wider programme of cultural events continuing through the summer.
But, as Dr Lybeck explains, The Engine Room cafe and its cultural programme is just the start of reimagining the Wayfarers Arcade as the focal point of civic regeneration in Southport:
鈥淭he Wayfarers Arcade is really a symbol of Southport as a town: it鈥檚 beautiful and ornate but a bit shabby and underused, it needs love and energy to bring it back to life. Over the last five years the community has been working to do this, and we鈥檙e really proud of the space we鈥檝e created in The Engine Room. But now we鈥檙e expanding our ambitions.
鈥淪outhport, like many other English towns, has experienced a brain drain. It鈥檚 hard for young people to get skills, qualifications and jobs and many therefore leave. Certain types of learning and skills get lost 鈥� we see that particularly with conservation building. Particular skills are needed to maintain and restore heritage buildings, skills that just aren鈥檛 being taught.
鈥淏y working with the owners of the Wayfarers Arcade, with a local builder who specialises in conservation, with University of Manchester experts and with local education providers, we plan to offer young people opportunities to learn heritage building skills whilst carrying out the practical restoration and regeneration of the Arcade.
鈥淭he University of Manchester is a civic university, firmly committed to social responsibility and to making a positive difference to both society and the environment. Working within the University allows me to draw on our expertise in architecture, education, geography and materials engineering whilst working with the community to break down barriers between vocational and academic learning.
鈥淥ur vision is for Wayfarers Arcade to be a hub of culture, craft and civic life, creating opportunities for artists, musicians, learners, entrepreneurs and community organisations to participate in the ongoing renewal of one of Southport's most distinctive historic buildings.鈥�
More information about the Arcade Project can be found .
Researchers, community organisations and entrepreneurs who want to get involved can contact Dr Lybeck.