Object

Representation ID: 167392

Received: 26/10/2018

Respondent: Mrs Sarah Bearpark

4.2 KEY STRUCTURING ELEMENTS (FIXES)
Need to consider arts and an arts venue.

Whilst 'Arts and Culture facilities' are referenced, these are in passing and entirely vague (SPD pp39-40). The Creative Industries, which include the arts, are of growing importance in the UK economy and can play an important part in helping to create vibrant and cohesive communities.
Waterbeach has a lively arts community, which Urban and Civic has supported in recent years by hosting Open Studios at the Barracks site. It is hugely important that the plan for the New Town includes a dedicated venue for the arts to include live events, concerts and theatre as well as dedicated exhibition space. The plan should also consider how to embed the arts throughout the town through commissioned works and events that interpret the site and its fenland setting. Fen Edge communities are ill-served by the arts and there is opportunity here to change that model for the better.