Activating the city of Worcester: why do Worcester BID do it?
Worcester boasts a diverse array of urban spaces, ranging from Tudor housing and cobbled paths to the modern design of the Hive building. Yet, amidst this diversity, there is a common thread—activation of space. This concept lies at the heart of a thriving city. But what exactly does it entail?
In recent years, Worcester BID has led transformative initiatives across the cityscape. From captivating aerial displays on New Street, Friar Street, and the Shambles to the addition of extra festive lighting on Broad Street, street art on wayfinding signs, and the introduction of vibrant city planters and year-round floral displays, these endeavours are examples of activation of space. Looking ahead, Worcester BID plans to further invigorate neglected areas, transforming a neglected overgrown area at the base of Broad Street into a green space teeming with biodiversity and increasing the number of striking city artworks. Such initiatives not only enhance the visual appeal of the city but also serve to increase dwell time and footfall, cultivating a vibrant and dynamic urban environment for all to enjoy.
Dwell time, the duration individuals spend in a specific location, holds significance for businesses and communities alike. By transforming city spaces—such as converting neglected corners into lush green areas with seating—Worcester can create inviting environments that encourage prolonged engagement.
The activation of spaces naturally leads to an upsurge in footfall. When areas undergo revitalisation through attractive enhancements, people are drawn to explore and discover. This surge in pedestrian traffic translates into tangible benefits for local businesses, offering fresh marketing opportunities and ultimately driving sales. An example is The Big Spring Window Trail, featuring 50 beautifully hand-drawn floral business windows. Visitors can download a map for this free floral trail from Worcester BID’s website (www.worcesterbid.com/2024/04/02/thebigspring) and share their experiences using the hashtag #TheBigSpring.
Beyond the economic benefits, activating spaces also enhances Worcester’s aesthetic appeal. Beautifying neglected areas through greening and rewilding, public art, and creative lighting not only makes the city more visually appealing but also instils a sense of pride among residents whilst creating memorable experiences for both locals and visitors.
In conclusion, activating Worcester’s spaces is not just about improving aesthetics; it’s about creating dynamic, inclusive, and thriving urban environments. By enhancing dwell time, increasing footfall, and improving the city’s appearance, Worcester can unlock its full potential as a vibrant and welcoming place to live, work, and visit.
The Big Spring: Download the Map and take the Trail!
Spring has officially arrived in Worcester! With 50 windows now adorned with festive decorations by local artist Catt Standen, we’re thrilled to present the trail map to everyone. Embark on a city walk and discover the stunning floral displays on our business windows this Easter—a delightful, cost-free adventure for the family. Access the BID trail map below!
Download the map PDF here: Spring Window Art Map 
Remember to share your photos with us by tagging @makeitworc on Instagram, or @worcesterbid on Facebook and Twitter, and use the hashtag #thebigspring!
We are going ‘nutcrackers’ over the Starlight Parade and Trail this Christmas
The Hive Library is thrilled to announce the return of the lantern parade, an event that has been much missed since the pandemic restrictions in 2020. This year, The Hive has partnered with Worcester City Council, Worcester BID, local Artist Catt Standen, and Crowngate Shopping Centre, to make the return of the event bigger and better than ever before. The Starlight Parade and Trail is set to be enlightening! The enchantment of a certain magical ballet is in the air, and we’ve sprinkled a dash of its brilliance throughout our lantern-lit evening.
The Starlight Parade will take place on Saturday 25th November at 4pm starting from The Hive and ending at Cathedral Square. Invited students from local schools as well as a team of volunteers and creatives will adorn the streets of Worcester with handmade lanterns.
Artists Anna Best and Catt Standen have been visiting the city’s schools this month, working with students to build willow lanterns and to tell them more about the parade. Lantern decorating workshops will also take place at The Hive throughout November and December, where families and children are encouraged to decorate their own lantern before lining the streets to welcome and watch the parade. The public is invited to watch the spectacle by lining the route of the Starlight Parade: a great place to watch is the High Street!
Local artist Catt Standen has also produced four amazing showstopper lanterns for the Starlight Parade around the theme of the famous ballet, The Nutcracker. The special showstoppers are funded by Worcester BID and will stand 6 feet tall upon puppeteers! If you attend, you will see a Storybook, the magical Mouse King, the Nutcracker and the sparkling Sugarplum Fairy Princess.
The parade will start at 4pm from The Hive, making its way down past the bus station and Mode Nightclub, across the market stalls at Angel Place, turning left onto Broad Street before making the final stretch down Worcester High Street finishing at Cathedral Square.
The Starlight Parade coincides with the exciting Christmas Lights switch-on, situated at Cathedral Square, where there will be lots of family entertainment from 4pm until 7pm and the parade will take you straight to the action! The event will mark the beginning of the Christmas celebrations in Worcester with live music performances from local schools, choirs and appearances from the cast of the Swan Theatre’s Pantomime, Jack and The Beanstalk.
A fantastic window art trail will accompany the starlit event during November and December, with local business windows decorated by local artists. A hidden word game dotted around the city will also spread some festive joy over the extended Christmas period.
Stephanie Jones, Library Manager at The Hive, said “We’re delighted to partner with Worcester BID, Worcester City Council, and Catt Standen to help convene the Starlight Parade and Trail this year. We’re extremely excited to see the fantastic lanterns and to celebrate the Christmas Lights switch-on as part of Worcester’s local community.”
The Hive Library and city partners Worcester BID and Worcester City Council are thrilled to bring back lanterns to Worcester in the form of the sparkling-new Starlight Parade and Trail.
After the parade, the showstopper lanterns will be exhibited at The Hive from Monday 27th December 2023 until Tuesday 2nd January 2024 with free admission to all and open daily (8:30am-10pm). There will also be multiple ‘Meet the Artist’ events during December giving the public the opportunity to meet artist Catt Standen as she talks about the creation of the lanterns.
To stay up to date with everything about The Starlight Parade and Trail, please follow @thestarlightparade on Instagram.
Please visit The Hive’s website for more information and to book your lantern-making workshop: Lantern Decorating Workshops – The Hive (thehiveworcester.org)
The next steps for Worcester’s Scala arts venue are due to be discussed
Following the decision by the Members of Worcester City Council to halt the existing plans for the proposed renovation of the Grade II listed Corn Exchange and Scala in the city centre, independent consultant Candice Pearson has been appointed to engage local stakeholders to discuss next steps and encourage expressions of interest in the site.
Worcester City Council was awarded funding as part of the Government’s Future High Streets Fund to renovate these two historic buildings in Angel Street into a new 500-seat flexible theatre with complementary gallery space, as well as a café dining area.
Unfortunately, escalating costs meant that the original project could no longer be completed within budget and so the Council is seeking views from stakeholders whilst work continues.
The Joint Leaders of Worcester City Council, Councillors Lynn Denham and Marjory Bisset, said: “We would like to hear from local leaders and influencers across all sectors, and especially the arts, with ideas for how to best fulfil the ambition to restore and bring back into economic use these two remarkable buildings. If that sounds like you, please head to www.scalaworcester.co.uk to get involved.
“Our aim is to create a vibrant destination venue that will enrich Worcester’s cultural scene, helping to increase footfall and bring new private sector investment into the area, in turn creating employment opportunities for local people.”
Ms Pearson said: "Significant funding is available to restore these two locally iconic buildings, offering an unrivalled opportunity to enhance the city's cultural life, not to mention boost the local economy. I implore all dynamic teams and ambitious individuals with exciting ideas and viable business plans for how to make these buildings operational once again to join the conversation and perhaps make their dreams a reality."
As well as one-to-one meetings, interested parties and business prospects can share their views via an in-depth survey available at www.scalaworcester.co.uk, as well as attend one of three public consultation events.
Tours of the site can also be arranged, and stakeholders can express their interest by contacting Scala@cp-pr.org.
Under the original plans, Worcester Theatres were to operate the new Scala, while the Swan Theatre would have become a venue for community arts activities. The Swan Theatre will now continue to operate in its current guise under the management of Worcester Theatres and has already confirmed its regular schedule for the foreseeable future, including several performances from the city's many community theatre groups.
MEET THE ARTISTS
Worcester BID has been busy making over the city with artwork on electric boxes and signposts!
Want to know more about the artists? Visit their socials by pressing the link below.
PRESS HERE TO MEET THE ARTISTS
Innovative Solar Butterfly to Stop in Worcester as Part of World Tour
A butterfly-shaped trailer, powered entirely by the sun, will be making a stopover in Worcester this summer as part of a world tour promoting solutions to stop global warming.
The Solar Butterfly was developed by Lucerne University of Applied Sciences in Switzerland and is the world’s largest fully functioning ‘tiny’ house powered by solar energy and pulled by an electrical vehicle. Its creators are driving around the world, across 90 countries over four years, powered only by solar energy in the hope of raising awareness of the climate crisis.
It will be travelling through the UK this summer, stopping off in Worcester on June 1st, before continuing on to Canada, USA, Mexico and Central America.
The Solar Butterfly will be on display in Cathedral Square in the City before spending the night at the University of Worcester to re-charge before continuing its tour.
During the day there will be a chance to see the 80-square-metre solar panel covered trailer, which powers the Tesla vehicle towing it, and take part in a climate quiz while also learning about solutions to stop global warming.
Members of the University’s and Worcester City Council’s Sustainability teams will also be on hand to talk about their work.
Katy Boom, Director of Sustainability at the University of Worcester, said: “We are delighted to be hosting the Solar Butterfly World Sustainability Tour here in Worcester. This fascinating concept will help to keep the climate crisis at the front of people’s minds and help them to learn about the things we can all do to stop global warming.”
The Solar Butterfly began its adventure amid dramatic alpine vistas at the United Nations office in Geneva, Switzerland. The first phase of the project – which has been largely crowdfunded, along with support from corporate sponsors – will take it on a six-month, 22,000-kilometer (13,670-mile) trip across 32 countries in Europe.
Louis Palmer, the brains behind the Solar Butterfly, who, in 2007 became the first person to drive around the world in a solar-powered car, says the purpose of the trip is to highlight climate crisis solutions that already exist – and inspire others to take action.
“The message is that it’s possible to save the planet,” he said.
Find out more about the Solar Butterfly project at www.solarbutterfly.org
Summer bunting is on its way in Worcester!
Towards the end of April, colourful bunting will be installed across the city on the High Street, Pump St, Mealcheapen St, St Swithins St and Broad St!
Join in the fun and decorate your shop windows in the most colourful way you can! Sign ups for the Worcester BID summer window art are still open for all BID businesses until tomorrow at 4PM.
This is a joint installation bought to the city by Worcester BID and Worcester City Council.
Worcester Whitehouse Hotel enjoys visit from Robin Walker MP
Aspire - Contemporary art exhibition by artist Wayne Warren The Commandery, Worcester
Aspire arrives at The Commandery, Worcester on 1 April until 3 September 2023
8 works on the themes of aspiration, dreams and ambition placed at significant points
Free family workshops with artist Wayne Warren on Easter Monday 10 April
Butterflies and angels are taking over The Commandery in an exhibition filled with hope and aspiration. Aspire opens at The Commandery on Saturday 1 April and runs until Sunday 3 September 2023.
The artworks have been created by contemporary artist Wayne Warren in response to the beautiful Commandery building and it’s amazing one-thousand-year history. The artworks represent aspirations, dreams and ambitions.
Visitors can follow the trail of artworks around The Commandery, take a selfie in front of huge angel wings in the historic Great Hall and enjoy a programme of wing-inspired family activities over the Easter holidays, including a workshop with the artist himself on Monday 10 April.
Situated in the heart of Worcester, The Commandery has been a medieval monastic hospital, a Tudor home and a 1950s print works, but is most well-known for being the headquarters of the Royalist army during the Battle of Worcester in 1651 – the deciding battle of the English Civil War.
The artworks include Golden Wings, situated in the building’s beautiful Great Hall; and Growth, a new artwork commissioned especially for the exhibition at The Commandery, featuring gold leaf on oak leaves and acorns, situated upon a stool made of wood from the Boscobel Oak, purported to be the tree King Charles II hid in when fleeing from the Battle of Worcester.
Wayne Warren’s work has been exhibited at Worcester Cathedral and internationally in Hong Kong, Beijing, New York and Venice. Wayne says of his show at The Commandery: “My work reflects my thoughts and feelings about the 1,000 years of history contained within the fabulous building.”
Commandery Manager Rachel Robinson says: “It is fascinating to have The Commandery’s history interpreted in new ways and to shed light on its many layers of history. We hope visitors will enjoy finding the artworks around the building, taking their angel wing selfies, and having fun with the family activities.”
The Commandery is open Tuesday – Saturday 10am – 5pm and Sunday 11am – 3pm. It is also open Bank Holiday Monday 10 April 10am – 5pm and there are workshops at 11am, 1pm and 3pm. Normal admission applies, no extra fee for the exhibition. Small fee for the family activities. For more information, please visit www.museumsworcestershire.org.uk
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗚𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗹𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱!
