RSA: Regeneration with Attitude Series

From 2013 to 2015  Lia Ghilardi was invited by RSA Yorkshire  to conduct a series of workshops under the label Regeneration with Attitude. The events  aimed at exploring alternative approaches to regeneration through people, culture and enterprise.

The workshops’ format consisted of presenting a series of provocations to kick off the debate. In the city of Hull (UK City of Culture 2017), for example, there was a lively debate about the merits and challenges of transforming cities through culture-led regeneration initiatives. During the evening, Lia Ghilardi and Beatriz Garcia, moderated the discussion and local stakeholders had a chance to express their views on inter-agency cultural planning, the benefits of taking a fresh look at community and cultural assets, as well as their hopes and expectations for Hull beyond 2017.

Regeneration with Attitude debates were also conducted in Darlington and Leeds, culminating in a day-long workshop in December 2015 organised by the Hull School of Art and Design, in which Lia Ghilardi led group work focused on the practical application of her place-mapping and cultural regeneration techniques.

As well as gathering members of RSA Yorkshire in Todmorden, Lia Ghilardi facilitated the Growing an Incredible Future Together event, which was attended by participants from Incredible Edible networks from across the country. At the gathering, as well as presenting her method for involving local communities in identifying their unique assets, she also shared her experience of initiating and delivering concrete projects through multi-agency partnerships.