Cross-pollination: Growing cross-sector design collaboration in placemaking
Lead Research Organisation:
The Open University
Department Name: Faculty of Sci, Tech, Eng & Maths (STEM)
Abstract
The aim of the project is to grow capacity for cross-sector design collaboration in placemaking through the use of a creative approach called 'cross-pollination'. The approach was developed and tested in a variety of research-based and practice-based projects in different settings and has proved successful in bringing people together to share and connect their assets (human, economic, cultural, social) as a basis for forming partnerships with the capacity to lead design initiatives.
The idea is to scale up collaboration by providing spaces that can enable and empower placemaking actors (local authorities, civic sector organisations, community groups, academic institutions, cultural institutions and businesses) to incubate cross-sector collaborative design initiatives in local areas.
The project will engage with three locally based partners who represent three different types of stakeholders or routes to placemaking in different locations in the three nations of Wales, Scotland and England: a local authority (Merthyr Tydfil in Wales), a place commission (Glasgow in Scotland) and a business improvement district (Clapham Junction in England). The activities of the project will help capture and share local knowledge, develop skills and capacity among individuals and organisations, and deliver local impacts.
The idea is to scale up collaboration by providing spaces that can enable and empower placemaking actors (local authorities, civic sector organisations, community groups, academic institutions, cultural institutions and businesses) to incubate cross-sector collaborative design initiatives in local areas.
The project will engage with three locally based partners who represent three different types of stakeholders or routes to placemaking in different locations in the three nations of Wales, Scotland and England: a local authority (Merthyr Tydfil in Wales), a place commission (Glasgow in Scotland) and a business improvement district (Clapham Junction in England). The activities of the project will help capture and share local knowledge, develop skills and capacity among individuals and organisations, and deliver local impacts.
| Title | Cross-pollination: growing cross-city design collaboration with London National Park City |
| Description | This film captures a cross-pollination workshop delivered in London in February 2023 in collaboration with London National Park City to benefit the work of their Rangers network. |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Impact | The film is used to raise awareness of the cross-pollination process and its impact on participants and inspire others to use it in their work. |
| URL | https://youtu.be/e3bmn8od9b8 |
| Title | Cross-pollination: growing cross-sector design collaboration in Gurnos, Merthyr |
| Description | This film presents the voices and reflections of different partners and community members who benefitted from the cross-pollination approach in the area of Gurnos of Merthyr Tydfil in Wales in 2022. It captures the impacts of this collaborative approach to placemaking on people's connections to and aspirations about their place. Cross-pollination is a design-led, creative approach where parties across different sectors share and identify common and complementary interests, competencies and live projects in order to incubate new activities/projects and collaborate on joint work. The work was led by The Open University and The Glass-House Community Led Design in collaboration the Community Renewal Funded project Creu Cyffro and local partners: The Open University in Wales, Wellbeing Merthyr, Merthyr Valley Homes, Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council and a variety of other individuals and organisations. |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Impact | The film has been used to: - disseminate the work of project partners and inspire collaboration - provide evidence of community engagement for evaluation purposes - promote the voices of Gurnos residents |
| URL | https://youtu.be/xlGg5rqEg2A |
| Title | Cross-pollination: growing cross-sector design collaboration in Gurnos, Merthyr (short) |
| Description | A short film about the Cross-pollination approach used to support cross-sector design collaboration and benefit local people in the Gurnos ward of Merthyr Tydfil in Wales in 2022. The work was led by The Open University and The Glass-House Community Led Design in collaboration the Community Renewal Funded project Creu Cyffro and local partners: The Open University in Wales, Wellbeing Merthyr, Merthyr Valley Homes, Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council and a variety of other individuals and organisations. |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Impact | This shorter version of the film was used to disseminate the project's work in Merthyr via social media. |
| URL | https://youtu.be/4VQJEO6jxrU |
| Description | The project explored and tested ways to use and adapt cross-pollination as a method to support cross-sector design collaboration within and across local places in the UK. The project has found certain conditions that enable or hinder uptake and cascading of collaborative ways of working. Some of the enablers are: Starting from assets and existing strengths and resources; valuing all contributions equally; creating time and (funded) space for exploration and experimentation; creating an environment where everyone can express different values and perspectives; supporting playful interactions. One of the key barriers identified is that current funding schemes often unwittingly create a culture of competition amongst different groups and organisations as they compete against one other to access funding. This can create fatigue and an unwillingness to try new things out. The cross-pollination project focussed on providing a space for open interaction and exploration by allocating a small amount of seed-funding to bring different organisations and different sectors together. However, the project found that cross-pollination works best in situations where well-connected place-based actors (individuals or organisations) exist who are able to take ownership of the approach and adapt it to convene different groups and organisations together. |
| Exploitation Route | The project has produced a Cross-pollination Resource Pack to help provide inspiration, examples and practical tools to individuals and organisations across sectors who wish to promote a collaborative way of working in the context of placemaking. Many of the participants are developing ways to apply and expand cross-pollination in their practice, either as a tool to help their network or organisation to grow stronger connections and collaborative ways of working internally, and/or as a tool to connect with external partners to deliver joint work. The project also produced a series of films to help communicate the cross-pollination approach and its principles to a wide audience, and to share participants stories and impact produced. |
| Sectors | Communities and Social Services/Policy,Creative Economy,Environment,Government, Democracy and Justice,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections,Other |
| URL | https://growing-cross-pollination.weebly.com/ |
| Description | The project supported the work of numerous individuals and organisations involved in placemaking in England, Scotland and Wales. The project reached over 20 groups and organisations from the private, public and voluntary sector, over 50 individuals working in those organisations and over 100 members of the public. The workshops/activities helped participants connect and share experiences with others and frame a vision and ideas for collaborative action. The project raised awareness about the value of collaboration in local placemaking; and provided practical knowledge to apply in future collaborations/contexts. The project also supported activities which helped people become better connected to their place, cultivating a sense of ownership and pride. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2022 |
| Sector | Communities and Social Services/Policy,Creative Economy,Other |
| Impact Types | Cultural,Societal |
| Description | Cross pollination with London National Park City Rangers |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A cross-pollination workshop involving 10-12 individuals who volunteer at London National Park City, helping promote a greener, healthier and wilder London by leading local action in different boroughs. The participants learned about each others skills and projects and developed ideas for collaborative activities that can help promote and support their local work as well as the work of LNPC as a city-wide organisation. As a result of the collaboration with LNPC, The Glass-House Community Led Design (who was a key co-design and co-delivery partner in the project) was invited to participate in a bid to National Lottery to help embed the cross-pollination in the organisation's work. The Open University team will be on the advisory board. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Cross-pollination and co-design workshops in Merthyr Tydfill |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | A series of online and face-to-face workshops with local organisations in Merthyr Tydfil to support cross-sector collaboration and co-develop a plan for joint action. Around 15 individuals participated from Wellbeing Merthyr, Merthyr Valleys Homes, Healthy Hillsides, Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council, and The Open University in Wales. The project augmented work delivered as part of the Community Renewal Funded Project Creu Cyffro and helped bring different organisations together to co-design and co-deliver a public open day event for the people of Merthyr living in the deprived neighbourhood of Gurnos. See separate entry for the open day event. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://growing-cross-pollination.weebly.com/blog/design-day-in-merthyr |
| Description | Cross-pollination in Edinburgh (Share Connect Create - Gilmerton and Liberton) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | This cross-pollination workshop was organised in collaboration with Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations' Council (EVOC ). It was attended by around 35 people from different sectors active in the areas of Liberton and Gilmerton (residents, third sector organisations, local authorities, local businesses) who worked together to share their skills, resources and aspirations and explore opportunities for collaboration. The participants came away with new connections and new ideas and plans for future activities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Cross-pollination in Glasgow |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | 2 cross-pollination workshops were delivered in Glasgow, engaging over 25 people from different sectors: (local voluntary organisations, residents and businesses) in thinking about their collective assets and how they can put them together to instigate positive change. Both focussed on the east end of Glasgow. The first workshop which was led by the Cross-pollination led to discussions about unused spaces in the city and how they can be used to connect people. Following the workshop new connections were explored locally and the second workshop was led by Glasgow Community Food Network and was specifically focussed on food growing, which sparked further connections and ideas for projects that can make a more sustainable, environmentally aware Glasgow. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://growing-cross-pollination.weebly.com/blog/reflections-on-cross-pollination-in-glasgows-east-... |
| Description | Cross-pollination with Gleadless Valley Partnership (Sheffield) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | The Gleadless Valley Partnership and Sheffield City Council submitted an expression of interest to run a cross-pollination workshop to help the members of the partnership reconnect with one another and develop a vision for the partnership going forward. Attendees came from the Council as well the 6 members of the partnership: Gleadless Valley TARA, Gleadless Valley foodbank, the 2 local churches, Holy Cross Church and Gleadless Valley Methodist Church, Heeley City Farm and Heeley Trust (18 participants). The workshop helped participants develop an understanding each others' potential contributions and feel more part of a collective. It also helped increase their confidence about their contribution to plans for the regeneration of the area and the group were able to develop and generate new ideas, and agree on some shared priorities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://growing-cross-pollination.weebly.com/blog/reconnecting-organisations-in-gleadless-valley |
| Description | Cross-pollination with ecological initiatives in London (Barnet Gathers) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Becky Lyon (a London National Park City ranger) submitted an expression of interest to deliver a cross-pollination workshop to bring together different grassroots ecological initiatives in Barnet. The 18 participants exchanged their skills and knowledge and explores ways to put those together in the future. As a result of the workshop, Becky launched the Barnet Directory on Instagram, which showcases and connects grassroots organisations across the borough. It also influenced the thinking of LNPC and led to another workshop with rangers across the LNPC network. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://growing-cross-pollination.weebly.com/blog/cross-pollinating-barnets-grassroots-ecological-ne... |
| Description | Invited presentation at NCACE Festival of Cultural Knowledge Exchange |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Invited presentation at National Centre for Academic and Cultural Exchange (NCACE) Festival of Cultural Knowledge Exchange, 14 October 2022, Online, in a session organized in collaboration with the AHRC Place-Based Program focussed on "Why Does Place Matter? Foregrounding Felt Experiences". Katerina Alexiou and Vera Hale presented initial findings of the project to around 60 participants. The audio recording of the session is available online on the NCACE website. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://soundcloud.com/user-245837210/why-does-place-matter-foregrounding-felt-experiences-14-octobe... |
| Description | Our Gurnos |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Over 100 people attended the Open Day event spread around different local places in Gurnos, Merthyr (open spaces, schools, community spaces) which brought local residents together and helped disseminate work by different organisations and collect their experiences and feedback on issues such as health and wellbeing, housing, arts and environmental education. The event helped build connections in the local community and participants reported feeling better connected to and more proud about their place and their community. The experience of organising the day sparked further ideas for collaboration and co-production between local organisations and beyond the boundaries of Gurnos. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://growing-cross-pollination.weebly.com/blog/celebrating-our-gurnos |