Gabrielle Austen-Browne FRSA (she/her)’s Post

Day One at Host City 2024 closed with a discussion on the impact of staging major cultural and entertainment events. Claire McColgan CBE - Director of Culture at Liverpool City Council and Vice Chair of UK City of Culture - spoke about how cultural events can be a catalyst for city regeneration. “Tourism is almost half the economy of Liverpool, but it also fosters a love of culture in future generations, and that propels new creative opportunities.”  It was a point echoed by Harvey Goldsmith. He said that, despite evidence to the contrary, city leaders can still oppose cultural events that ultimately benefit them. “Risk aversion is an issue. Health and safety regulations can be overblown and used to stop events taking place.” He added: “Cities should be proud of staging events, and work with organisers to expand them and grow the commercials. That will is often lacking.” Tim Kasper, Account Manager for Sport & Culture, Explore Edmonton Corporation, followed on, explaining that his city’s instinct is to enable cultural events. He said that events in the city are planned by engaging with indigenous population and underrepresented groups. “It makes events a movement for inclusion and cohesion.” Faye Woodbridge, Head of Marketing and Ticketing at 13 Artists, spoke about the importance of the nightlife economy to cities. “It is vital to cities today, but also to the next generation. Without the grassroots venues, you just don’t get the talent development. And that route is getting harder and harder, with touring costs escalating to unsustainable levels.” She added that there is an increasing disconnect between ticket issuers and fans, notably in ticket prices. “With larger artists we have more leverage to negotiate on ticket fees. But often, we have no control.” Harvey said that the government has the power to regulate this. “At the 2012 Olympics, the UK government capped ticket prices by law. So we’ve seen that this is very possible to do through legislation.” He added that digital media companies need to be part of the solution. “Their technology facilitates some of the questionable ticketing tactics. As an industry that cares deeply about making entertainment and cultural events affordable for everyone, that needs to be a focus.” #HostCity2024 #HC2024 #HostCity #CulturalEvents #CityRegeneration #EventEconomy #NightlifeEconomy

Recently, I had a challenging experience trying to access one of London's main event arenas, which made me wonder how other venues accommodate Neurodivergent individuals. I've attended several events in the past few weeks: I love live events, especially music, as they are very soothing for me. However, getting in and out of these venues is often exhausting and takes up a lot of my energy (spoons). I want to share my experiences in the hope that it might help others and highlight where improvement is required. If you can, take your Sunflower lanyard/card with you as these are well known in the UK. In May and June of this year, I visited Twickenham, Wembley Stadium, Hammersmith Apollo, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and The O2. The best experience I had was at Twickenham. When it came time for the body searches, I explained that I didn't like being touched, and they immediately offered a wand search instead. They also informed me about the sensory room available and assured me that any staff member would help if I asked. Wembley, Hammersmith, and Tottenham also provided good experiences. However, The O2 needs improvement. Initially, I was misgendered and sent to a male security officer for a pat-down search. When I raised the issue, he offered a wand search, which was acceptable to me. Then a female officer appeared. I explained that I am Autistic (and ticklish) and didn’t like being touched. Despite this, she proceeded with the pat-down, and the more I jumped and twisted in discomfort, the more she continued. This was a horrific experience for me. I completely understand the need for security and have no intention of bringing in prohibited items. However, there are alternative methods for searching individuals who are uncomfortable with the usual procedures. If someone requests an accommodation, it’s because they genuinely need it, not because they are trying to be difficult. The O2, you must do better. Ask me for help, I would be happy to assist. Let's work together to create inclusive spaces for everyone. #Neurodiversity #Inclusivity #AccessibilityAwareness

Read Ellie's Guest Blog on Venue Accessibility https://lnkd.in/e2iJBhat Last month, ORA had the pleasure of hosting Ellie Mullis, a passionate advocate for accessibility, at Royal Ascot. Her experience that day highlighted significant challenges, from navigating inaccessible parking to facing barriers in venue facilities. Ellie's guest blog shares first-hand insights into these obstacles, emphasising the urgent need for venues to prioritise inclusive planning and design. Her story is a powerful reminder of why proactive engagement with disabled people is essential to ensure everyone feels welcome and accommodated. Our observations are not specific to Royal Ascot alone. All venues, regardless of size or prestige, must consider accessibility. Ascot’s Access Officer welcomed our feedback and reiterated their commitment to providing an accessible environment for all racegoers. They highlighted recent accessibility initiatives and have invited Ellie and ORA for a further conversation. Take a moment to read Ellie's eye-opening account. Let's work together to make accessibility a standard, not an exception: https://lnkd.in/e2iJBhat

When policy experts are knowledgeable, creative *and* value arts and culture … it can look something like this: pairing new entertainment zone legislation with existing community benefit districts infrastructure to make outdoor events substantially easier to start up and grow! 👏👏

Festivals and community events bring neighbourhoods to life, instilling a rich sense of belonging and familiarity. This unique sense of belonging appeals to those seeking a genuine community they can wholeheartedly embrace. For developers, appreciating these aspects involves more than structural design. By crafting spaces with inviting parks, adaptable community venues, and open gathering areas, we lay the groundwork for events that draw people together. As these spaces become hubs of activity, they infuse the neighbourhood with character and warmth, adding immeasurable value that elevates any real estate project. Read More - https://lnkd.in/dC8wxn_D #IndianFestivals #Neighbourhoods #Traditions #CommunityAreas #Parks #Gardens #Celebrations #Companionship #RealEstate #Development #Evershine

The burgeoning trend of private clubs in New York City, as explored by Anna Kodé for The New York Times in "Members-Only Mania: Why Are More Private Clubs Popping Up in New York?", reveals a complex interplay between luxury and exclusivity, meeting the needs for connection and community in a post-pandemic world. Kodé's in-depth exploration of clubs like the opulent Casa Cipriani New York and the creatively inclined Verci underscores a dramatic shift in urban social spaces, fueled by vast vacancies in office real estate and changing work cultures. This shift is underscored by Zack B., CEO at Private Club Marketing, who notes, "As the landscape of work and leisure continues to blur, these private clubs offer a sanctuary for those looking to balance productivity with personal growth and relaxation." Bates' observation highlights how these spaces have become essential for individuals seeking a harmonious blend of professional development and personal well-being in a post-pandemic world. These clubs serve not just as status symbols but as essential spaces for professionals seeking a blend of productivity, personal growth, and relaxation, reflecting a modern urban lifestyle that values personalized and niche experiences. https://lnkd.in/gxB6-VBY #privateclubs #newyork #commercialrealestate

This week, I had the opportunity to attend the Convention, Sports & Entertainment Facilities Conference in Las Vegas. Many great conversations in preparation for the panel which focused on the important aspects and challenges of #entertainmentadjacent mixed-use development. Eric Nordness, David Carlock, Tim Katt, and Kevin Rieger - big thanks for participating in the discussion and big shout out to Shannon Jones for facilitating. A couple big takeaways: 1. Forming the right P3 is critical to long-term success. Get the right people “on the bus”. 2. For these districts to thrive, it’s vital they’re successful when large events aren’t occurring, which means: well-programmed and activated, attractive and right-sized public realm, locally curated tenant mix, and a wide range of site uses. 3. Experiential friction is a major deterrent to long-term success, so planning for a range of uses and designing for flexibility is key. 4. Infrastructure to support high-production events is important and a costly add after the fact. 5. Nothing exists in a vacuum - understand operational/ownership nuances with adjacent venues, plan for connectivity to the venue and surrounding neighborhood(s), and get the community involved throughout the process to understand their needs in order to create a place that will ultimately benefit that community. Stantec #entertainmentdistricts #placemaking #mixed-use #experienceanchored

Day two of Host City 2024 got underway with a keynote address from Richard Lochhead MSP, Minister for Business. He reminded the conference that  Scotland continues to be a destination for global cultural, sports and business events. “I go around the world and speak to international businesses, and get such amazing feedback about Scotland’s ability to host major events. It’s a very important dimension to Scotland’s global standing.” The first panel of the day looked at how events can inspire action towards sustainable city development. At the heart of this question is the balance between financial drivers and supporting community needs. Celine Payelle, Vice-President and General Manager, Events & Experiences, Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group, explained that social impact is a key priority of her organisation. “We have proven that investing in the cultural industry has profound benefits for a community.” She explained how  Cirque du Soleil works with local schools, distributes free tickets to people who may not be able to afford them, and hires local entertainers and artists. “This doesn’t always make immediate financial sense, but it has a significant long-term social impact.” Joel Lavery, Strategic Lead Major Sporting Events at West Midlands Growth Company, said that the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games was the start of “bringing swagger back to the city”. He stressed the importance of political leadership in hosting big city events.”You need politicians to make brave decisions around funding and enabling events.” Billy Garrett, Director of Culture, Tourism and Events at Glasgow Life, echoed this point, saying that cultural and sporting events have been significant in bringing Glasgow out of the shadows of its industrial decline in the 1980s. “The redevelopment of the city through events has been a purposeful strategy. We have layered one event on top of another to build an enduring legacy.” Joel explained that public sector subsidies of major events are becoming more challenging. “Local authorities and governments have too much competitive pressure on budgets. So rights holders need to do more to develop commercial partnerships with the private sector.” Billy added that, regardless of the funding model, impact measurement is key. But he warned that not everything that can be counted, counts. “Other, less tangible impacts, such as civic pride, are incredibly important, but rarely part of an evaluation framework. While that is hard to measure, it must be factored in.” Joel ended the panel by encouraging delegates to think beyond social impact. “That feels like a given now. The next play is to frame as a boost for the share price of a city…its international reputation and its ability to act on the global stage, and what that then means to new inward investment opportunities.” Our thanks to Duncan Mackay for moderating the panel! #HostCity2024 #hostcity #SustainableCities #EventLegacy #CulturalImpact