The decline of high streets is a concern for many people in Gwynedd, but Arloesi Gwynedd Wledig are trying to tackle this issue using creative solutions!
Working with 3 communities, Nefyn, Criccieth and Caernarfon Arloesi Gwynedd Wledig have trialled new and innovative ideas to increase the number of visitors to the streets, that will in turn increase the number of visitors to the area and increase spending in the local area.
Nefyn had many creative ideas ready to be piloted! As part of the Unique Streets project AGW funded a mural on the side of a building on the High Street, which has been painted by local artist Darren Evans. The mural will be officially unveiled on Friday 21/02/20 at 4.30pm by Liz Saville Roberts MP. Nefyn also trialled the idea of a street party, with live music, food and craft stalls and lots of activities. The Party on the Pavement was held on the 13th of July on the High Street in Nefyn, and they had a fantastic day! There was a wonderful atmosphere with many people turning up to support and enjoy.
The high street was the focal point for communities all over Wales. It offered job opportunity, a place for small businesses to thrive and was the driving force for the local and regional economy. Today the local high street is challenged by the huge increase in online shopping, shopping centres and large supermarkets. All these factors have had a detrimental effect on our high street, which has contributed largely to the decline around town centres across Wales.
Katie Hughes-Ellis, AGW project officer explains “Today users are looking for a range of experiences on our high streets, from shopping to leisure to entertainment to health services. Today our high streets should offer a unique experience that people can’t find anywhere else.”
If you walked down Palace Street in Caernarfon last summer you’ll have noticed colourful umbrellas above your head! As part of the Unique Streets project AGW also funded Caernarfon’s art installation above Palace Street to add to the image of the street but also to attract people to the street. The art installation has been very popular so far with hundreds of photos of it being shared on social media, and people traveling specially to see it. We went to the street to ask people’s opinion on it and 99% agreed that the art work gave a good impression of the street, whilst 61% agreed or agreed strongly the art work made them spend more money on the street. In January they also won a prize at the Great British High Street Awards 2019. Palace Street was competing for The Rising Star Award which celebrates up and coming local communities who are on their way to transforming for the future. Palace Street was shortlisted to be the best in the UK and impressively won in the Wales category.
Criccieth had many different ideas they wanted to pilot. Among them was The Creative Incident, which was a day of art activities, performances and workshops. As well as funding this, AGW also funded a statue inspired by the poem The Welsh Incident by Roberts Graves. During The Creative Incident we asked visitors their opinion on all the different things happening. 80% strongly agreed that the artwork and event made them spend more money on the street, and 100% strongly agreed the artwork and event gave a good impression of the street.
Arloesi Gwynedd Wledig is one of Menter Môn’s LEADER programmes, which looks for innovative solutions to the challenges facing the Gwynedd economy by piloting new initiatives. Menter Môn is a social enterprise which works across north Wales to deliver a range of regeneration, environmental and cultural projects for the benefit of local communities. By working in partnership with government, the third sector, business and individuals, Menter Môn attracts funding from different sources to add value and to contribute to creating a sustainable future.
This project has received funding through the Welsh Government Rural Communities - Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government. It’s also part funded by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) and Gwynedd Council.