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Annex F
The Lighthouse paper
The Lighthouse, Scotland's centre for architecture, design and the city
Proposal for a Cultural Estates Think and Do Tank
Introduction
This paper relates to the deliberations of the Cultural Commission and the development of a new cultural infrastructure in Scotland.
Definition
The Cultural Estate usually relates to dedicated spaces for the arts, but for the purpose of this paper the definition also takes in other buildings or spaces that also play a role (however indirect) in the delivery of culture - schools, community centres, churches and hospitals.
Proposal
This paper proposes a Think/Do Tank, organised under the auspices of The Lighthouse. The purpose, as the title suggests, is not only to offer inspirational thinking about the development of cultural spaces (however defined), but also to support creativity and innovation, consistent with Scotland's vision of becoming a creative hub.
A World-class Model of Innovation
From the outset the Think/Do Tank should create a vision and a set of values centred on promoting world-class projects and high quality design. Key to achieving that aspiration would be establishing a project group or board of international stature. Its membership should include international design practitioners with a track record in innovation and with experience of innovative, participative projects.
Example
One instance of how The Lighthouse might operate in this context is the project Design for Learning: 21st Century Schools, which is supported as part of the Scottish Executive's Future Learning and Teaching Programme. At its heart this project is about involving young people in the design process as a way of bringing about better educational spaces and environments. It has changed practice and has created a network of teachers, education authority officers, architects and designers, as well as a legacy of published case-study projects. It holds out a transferable model of creative participation for other clients and user-groups. It has also developed a lot of knowledge about international examples.
The Role of The Lighthouse
In this model The Lighthouse would operate as broker bringing together the requisite knowledge and expertise. In that sense, it could perform a range of functions and services. Importantly, these would be accessed through one door, whereas at present, any knowledge and expertise is dispersed through various agencies and individuals and is not readily accessible, particularly to non-specialists.
The Think/Do Tank might develop a particular role looking at issues concerning the Cultural Estate such as the development of temporary or flexible spaces or aspects like cultural provision for young people. Crucial to its role, however, would be the creation of new models, additional factors, fresh insights and different perspectives on the challenges facing the Cultural Estate. The Think/Do Tank would do this utilising The Lighthouse's unique relationship with the design profession and its international network.
Themes
It is important that a project focussed on innovation adopts a creative approach. Therefore, the Think/Do Tank might follow a process model with the following elements, which also clearly communicate its function:
Think Tank
Ideas Bank -a resource for developing new ideas
Greenhouse - a place for germination and cultivation
Do Tank
Design Studio - where ideas become real
Factory - production and dissemination
In other words potential partners, clients or users might come with merely a germ of an idea that would require all through development or take an off-the-shelf example.
Partnership Model
As well as engaging the talents of international practitioners the core partnership might comprise:
The Lighthouse
The Architecture Policy Unit
Architecture and Design Scotland
Learning and Teaching Scotland
Costs
It is difficult to present exact costs at this stage. Nonetheless, based on the experience of running the Design for Learning: 21st Century Schools project, annual running costs in the order of £220K - £250K might be realistically assumed. There would be added costs if international practitioners were to be involved.
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