Prisca Weems, Catarina Munha, Carla Oliva Morell, Inga Dankert

Grand Union Junction Works

Digbeth, Birmingham UK

A project that is working to position and embed artists and the wider community, at the centre of the regeneration that is happening in Digbeth by renovating and transforming an heritage derelict building that was once canal-side offices and then a factory. Phase one (which we will focus on) was to create new offices that could be rented out to creative businesses. This prepares the way for phase two, which will include creating exhibition, meeting & events spaces, a community café, kitchen and garden, accessible artist studios, and a changing places toilet facility.

As requested the first phase is complete, so we will be able to reflect on how it was achieved. There is a clear focus on regeneration in the project and it includes many different aspects of creativity. An associated project, for example, was looking at how to regenerate the soil by the canal that has become contaminated with industrial waste in situ. It is a project that has the possibility of benefiting the local community, bringing life back to a derelict building and being of benefit to both local and national artistic organisations. There is complexity both in what they wish to achieve and the various groups that connect with it. The director of Grand Union who are leading the project, Cheryl Jones, is open to learning more about the regenerative approach and keen to participate with us in this project. We feel that there is a lot to inspire us and to explore in this project. Cheryl is Kate's step-daughter.

This is the website about the project https://www.grand-union.org.uk/what-were-doing/community-led-infrastructures/junction-works