The idea
We are increasingly looking for social contact and opportunities to engage with our neighbours. Leytonstone has a shortage of public spaces where the community can come together and play, exacerbated by the current closure of the library. Cubes & Play will address this shortage - bringing residents together, fostering a sense of belonging and providing opportunities to have fun. Colourful and attractive street furniture will liven up the immediate area and provide a focal point for people to come together. The board games incorporated into the design will allow people of all ages and backgrounds to play.
Cubes & Play is designed by Definitive 1 with input from artist(s) and the community. Creative City will lead workshops where residents and schoolchildren can choose elements of the design, such as colour of the furniture and the games to be provided. Local businesses will also be consulted to make sure they benefit from the increased footfall.
What we'll deliver
- Confirm details of design, planting and game elements
- Fit table, seating and planter to each location
- Agree up to three locations for Cubes & Play
- Commission local artists to hold workshops with the community
- Purchase game pieces
Why it's a great idea
Here at Creative City we are interested in the relationships between art, people, and place. We believe that Cubes & Play embodies these relationships, and will help connect people to each other and to their local area.
Shared public spaces play a vital role in the social life of communities, allowing local people to interact. It is becoming more and more difficult to find such places. Board games provide benefits for all age groups - from helping young children develop social skills, to promoting mental stimulation in the elderly. We don’t have enough opportunities to play, especially not outside of our own age or social groups. We all want to have a thriving local area, but to do so we need activities or locations that make us want to spend time there.
Cubes & Play addresses all these issues. Residents will enjoy a more attractive public realm and chances to engage with each other, and businesses will reap the benefits of increased footfall and a more buzzing neighbourhood.
Steps to get it done
- Contract a local team to install furniture in each location
- Confirm details of design, planting and board games arising from workshops
- Confirm timetable for installation with local authority, business and residents
- Produce detailed specification for each location
- Purchase board game pieces
- Undertake relevant technical works for each location (structural engineering site survey, health and safety)
- Agree up to three locations for Cubes & Play with local authority planning officers and Leytonstone Community Ward Forum
- Commission artist(s) to hold workshops with residents and businesses
- Commission Cubes & Play designers 'Definitive1’ to make the furniture
- Confirm arrangements for local shops to store pieces for the game(s)
Cubes & Play is a simple and fun project: ultimately it's about creating shared spaces for us to enjoy together. Installation is easy and will take no more than a few hours, so there will not be any disruptions to the area.
The level of community involvement is crucial for Cubes & Play. To deliver a successful project, we know that residents and businesses need to feel a sense of ownership and pride. Your support is vital, both now and when funding has been secured, and we want as many people as people to be involved in the design process.
We believe that aside from the final outcomes, just taking part in the project will bring people closer together and engender a sense of community, and may even act as a departure point for future community activities.
"Cubes & Play is a creative and innovative way of animating High Streets in a way that brings the community together” Councillor Clyde Loakes, Deputy Leader & Leytonstone Ward Councillor
