Member Article

Design guru Hemingway making plans for Blackburn

Design guru Wayne Hemingway has issued a rallying cry, calling on the creative people of Blackburn and Darwen to take a stand.

The acclaimed designer and entrepreneur is looking for industrious and ambitious craftspeople, makers and artists to be part of a new initiative for the town centre.

The scheme, ‘Blackburn is Open’, aims to tackle the blight of empty shops, offices and spaces with premises given over to entrepreneurs who have ideas that revolve around the concept of ‘making’.

They will be offered discounted premises with support and mentoring to help them build successful and sustainable enterprises as part of a new ‘industrious’ community in the heart of Blackburn.

Wayne Hemingway , who grew up in Blackburn and, with wife Gerardine, opened his first Red or Dead shop in the town, has worked with council chiefs and business leaders to come up with the bold new plan to help Blackburn’s town centre area adapt and thrive.

Having built up one of Britain’s biggest fashion labels, the hugely successful Vintage brand and the award winning social design partnership Hemingway Design, he will be heading a panel to select the most talented and committed applicants who apply.

In addition, discounted business rates are being offered to already established creative businesses to encourage them to relocate to the town centre.

Mr Hemingway said: “There will be a fashion designer out there just starting out and looking to launch their own label; someone printing using an old letterpress machine or making hand crafted tools in their garage, a talented graphic designer or would-be professional photographer in need of a studio and in need of a public to view and use their talents. We want to hear from them.

“These kind of trades and crafts were once in the centre of any town and that’s where they should be again to maintain vibrant and living town centres.

“Blackburn is a town of ‘making’ and manufacturing with around 25 per cent of jobs in the manufacturing sector, that’s over twice the national average and a fact that can really help the town prosper as ‘Made in Britain’ continues to grow.

“To keep this ‘making’ tradition in full view of the citizens of Blackburn as they go about their daily business has to be a positive thing and can inspire a new generation.”

The project will be brought together under a new ‘manifesto’ for Blackburn called Arte et Labore.

The Latin phrase, which means ‘through skill and hard work’, appears on the borough’s crest as well as being the motto of the town’s football team. It refers to the area’s proud industrial heritage.

The manifesto pledges to build on this historic legacy by boosting opportunities for people to develop their skills, creating conditions for small businesses especially ‘makers’ and those in the creative industries and increasing employment choices particularly for young people.

Wayne has worked closely with local graphic designer Stephen Caton of Source Creative to develop the brand for the initiative.

He added: “I meet creative people all the time who come from Blackburn and they are some of the most hard working and talented people you could wish to meet. We have the ‘big hitters’ like the acclaimed film director Michael Winterbottom and the director of The Manchester International Festival, Christine Cort but also a small army of Blackburnians making a difference up and down the UK.

“Blackburn has always been bursting with talent and we want to do all we can to support this and let people know Blackburn is Open to them.”

The scheme will also see a number of projects take shape including a pop up arts centre, where artisans can make and sell their work, a town hall square events and arts space, and a development lab for foodie social enterprise, Chutney for Change.

It will be supported by a full events programme including two annual mini festivals, regular workshops, an arts markets and a pop up cinema.

Leader of the Council, Councillor Kate Hollern, said: “We are delighted to be working with Wayne who is a fantastic example of the Blackburnian ‘can do’ attitude and a real inspiration for our young people.

“Making our town centre into a bustling and vibrant place to visit and shop is one of our main priorities and we’re confident, that with Wayne’s help, this project will be key to making that happen.

“We’re not afraid of doing things differently in Blackburn. Thinking creatively and working hard to achieve our goal is something we have always done and will continue to do.”

Anyone wishing to apply to be a part of Blackburn is Open should email ideas@blackburnisopen.co.uk, with a brief description of themselves and their work including their contact details.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Malia .