URBAN ROOMS TOOLKIT

Dyfodol Rhuthun Urban Room

Description:
Ruthin Town Council held an annual pop-up ‘Urban Room’ at Ruthin Craft Centre in 2010/11, and 2018 as part of the Ruthin Future Place-planning initiative, including engaging the community about ideas in 2018 to develop the former NatWest at The Old Courthouse into a community hub.

Renovated in 2019, it offers an accessible multipurpose hall (and associated ancillary facilities) as part of its role as a community, civic and visitor focus in the town centre. Flexible exhibition walls, digital screens and perimeter displays were used to exhibit the Ruthin Future ‘22 update, allowing a sequence of varied engagement events to take place for up to an audience of 50 (additional via zoom). It has hosted previous pop-up Ruthin Future UR’s in 2020 & 2019.

Name:
Dyfodol Rhuthun - Ruthin Future ‘22

Location:
Yr Hen Lys - The Old Courthouse, Ruthin, North Wales

Run by:
Cyngor Tref Rhuthun - Ruthin Town Council with stakeholder partners & volunteers

Commissioned by:
Cyngor Tref Rhuthun - Ruthin Town Council

Period UR was open:
Temporary, 19.02.22 - 17.03.22

Timing of UR:
Pop-up - annual exhibition and programme of engagement events

Space Used:
The Old Courthouse - a mediaeval timber framed hall located in the centre of the Town Square, owned by Ruthin Town Council

Urban Room Folkestone

Description:
URF is a space for civic discussions about the town and wider societal/global topics such as climate change. URF sits in an area which has seen significant arts-led investment and development by a wealthy local businessman and the charity he established, Creative Folkestone, who are a key partner, along with the district and town council. Folkestone Fringe (a local arts organisation) manage the space and curate the programme. The newly-expanded Urban Room Folkestone Association acts as a de-facto board to guide URF activity.

Name: Urban Room Folkestone (URF) / UR Folkestone

Location: 1 The Plaza, Folkestone.

Run by: Founded by Diane Dever, now operated by The Urban Room Folkestone Association (URFA).

Commissioned by: Originally commissioned by the 2017 Creative Folkestone Triennial (since moved location)

When was the UR open: 2017-Present

Timing: Originally temporary for the 2017 Triennial, now permanent in new location

How was funded and resourced: Originally funded by the Triennial. Subsequently privately funded and staffed by two individuals who set up the URFA. Some ad-hoc funding from Creative Folkestone, District Council, Town Council. Where specific events/programmes are delivered by Folkestone Fringe this is often funded by the Arts Council, Town Council and in the past the EU via the Creative Europe programme.

Space: In a former tourist information office in the heart of the harbour/old town/Creative Quarter