European Renaissance Invites Links With Creative Mode
European Renaissance's newest link is with Creative Mode, a company specialising in the connections between commerce, industry and the arts. One of the first moves in this new collaboration will be consideration of whether two UK programmes are also feasible in Central Europe.
European Renaissance Director David Scougall has invited Bill Borland of Creative Mode in the UK to develop links with ER ventures in Central Europe.
Like ER, Creative Mode has an emphasis on the establishment of design-led manufacturing as a focal point for regeneration.
Previous collaborations
David Scougall and Bill Borland have previously collaborated in the UK on programmes such as the regeneration of the Sheffield Canal Basin and the development of Nicholas Treadwell's Art Factory in Bradford, the successor gallery to which is now located in Aigen Austria.
David and Bill also worked together when proposals for the Blakeridge Mill site in Batley were being considered. These proposals, to establish a not-for-profit Centre of Excellence named in honour of the site owner, Lord Kagan, included a Focus Centre for Applied Design as the main marketing hub of a network of design-led companies producing furniture, lighting and textiles.
Taking the proposals forward
David Scougall has now asked Bill Borland of Creative Mode to consider whether proposals for the Centre of Excellence can be taken forward in the UK and / or in Central Europe.
David has also expressed interest in Creative Mode's current project, the Aquartek Ark, which is a collaboration with the Scottish-based company Meiklewall. This idea involves design proposals to develop a network of secure flood and waste water lagoons as sites for floating aquatic villages. These villages would become safehavens in the event of flooding - an increasingly likely occurrence with climate change and disturbance of weather patterns.
The Creative Mode project
Bill Borland originated the Creative Mode project in London in the 1980s. A network of designer-makers, which became known as the Independent Designers' Federation, rapidly grew across the UK.
With the establishment of a permanent base in Camden, London, the IDF transformed from being an association of businesses into a formalised secondary-marketing co-operative, the first of its kind in the UK, which was known as the Independent Designers Society Ltd.
Bill also has connections with Creative Space.
The Central European dimension
The next challenge for David Scougall and Bill Borland will be to see if the model developed by Creative Mode, which is similar to ones previously also developed in the UK by David Scougall, can be applied to Central Europe.
European Renaissance Director David Scougall said:
European Renaissance is keen to develop the mode of regeneration and business renewal which Bill and I each have employed in the UK.
In using this approach we have developed a similar set of ideas to those of the very successful 401 Richmond programme in Canada.
The evidence thus far suggests the creative-led approach has much to commend it as a model also for Central Europe.
Contacts:
Email David Scougall
Email Bill Borland
