Learning the Hemingway

Old factories, empty shops and derelict sites in the city should be brought back into use in time for the UK City of Culture 2013, according to internationally acclaimed designer Wayne Hemingway.

Hemingway, who was in town last week as part of the Clipper Homecoming Festival, gave his unique take on how local people could shape up to make the most of UK City of Culture 2013 and the business opportunities it will present.

At a lunchtime masterclass in the City Hotel he said everyone had to play their part if 2013 was to be a success.

“This has got to be a stand out: it is the first ever UK City of Culture and all others are going to be benchmarked against it. The people of the city have got to deliver. While it’s much easier to sit back and criticise if things are not going well, City of Culture 2013 is an opportunity for everyone to get involved and contribute something positive to society.

“It’s not down to sponsors or the organisers or even the media to make it a success. It’s down to everyone living here to create an opportunity and then make the most of it. One of the best ways to get local people involved is to bring out their DNA. This city has so many stories to tell and there are many amazing brands but it has to be inclusive,” he said.

He said that empty buildings were an eyesore and alternative ways of bringing them back to life without charging prohibitive rents and rates should be considered.

“The old shirt factories, empty shops and derelict sites are like a string of pearls but they need to be opened up and put back into use. Open them up to young entrepreneurs looking for a base to set up in business; devise a trail to draw in visitors and create a new synergy and air of prosperity about the place which would be far more beneficial to the city than the empty buildings. A year long festival like City of Culture presents fantastic regeneration opportunities and the legacy of a successful festival will be there long after it’s over.”