Newark Creative Place Commission
Defining and delivering creative activation interventions in Newark Town Centre, to enhance Newark as a place for local people and a destination for visitors.
Culture and creativity have a profound impact on people and the way they live their lives. Towns and cities across the UK are committing to long-term investments in arts and culture, integrating place-shaping to build stronger connections between people and place.
In August 2023, Newark and Sherwood District Council (NSDC) commissioned New Practice to deliver the Creative Place Commission to enhance Newark’s appeal as a destination by designing and activating well-connected spaces that showcase the town centre.
The Creative Place Commission outlines influential projects that can be delivered in the short and medium term to inform key capital spending. It is part of a broader Town Investment plan – with an emphasis on supporting the Cultural Heart of Newark project and the emerging Newark Town Centre Masterplan and Design Code.
We collaborated with Newark and Sherwood District Council to develop creative place interventions for the town centre. Our recommendations included creative activation, wayfinding and signage, lighting, and developing the approach for an emerging place brand identity.
Our work with Newark and Sherwood District Council spanned five core workstreams: a strategy for activating cultural and creative spaces, a place brand identity, design and engineering options for market stalls in the Royal Market, wayfinding recommendations, and lighting and illumination recommendations.
Activating Spaces: Strategic recommendations for activating four key areas in Newark with indicative costings for short- and medium-term interventions.
Place Brand Identity: Developing a distinct colour palette developed in workshops with local people, along with branding elements, setting the foundation for an emerging place brand.
Wayfinding & Signage: Short and medium-term recommendations to improve Newark’s connectivity and visitor experience with engaging wayfinding.
Lighting and Illuminations: Recommendations for vibrant decorative lighting of key landmarks and public spaces, enhancing evening and night-time appeal.
For more information about the Market Stalls project click here.
We collaborated closely with colour specialist Studio Justine Fox to deliver two colour workshops in Newark. The first workshop brought together NSDC officers, elected members, local business owners, and other local stakeholders to discuss key themes such as connectivity and heritage. This allowed us to capture their views and priorities in the Newark-specific colour palette we developed. The second workshop engaged a class of college students from Newark College, bringing fresh perspectives to further enrich the palette. This Newark-specific palette will contribute to a broader place brand identity that aligns with the Newark Town Centre Masterplan, celebrates Newark’s identity, and attracts visitors to Newark as a key destination.
"In both workshop sessions, there was a strong connection to Newark's heritage and pride in its historic relationship with royalty, craft, and the local textile industry, all underscored by a fierce sense of independence."
© Studio Justine Fox 2024
We collaborated with NSDC to design a series of window vinyls for the Town Hall. These vinyls will activate vacant units, enhance the Town Hall’s appeal as a route to the Market, and improve wayfinding for visitors.
The process of developing the Creative Place Commission for Newark Town Centre underscored the value of being deeply embedded within, and working alongside the council team. By working closely with local stakeholders, we were able to develop an activation strategy that not only aligned with Newark’s broader goals but also resonated with the community’s unique character. Through this process, we defined how culture and creativity can transform a place—revitalising vacant spaces, supporting economic growth, and strengthening the social uses. Engaging with a diverse range of voices, from business owners to young students, enriched our understanding of newark and shaped the short- and medium-term projects that would pilot ideas for the broader regeneration. This experience reaffirmed the potential of thoughtful, community-driven interventions to shape vibrant, connected, and resilient towns across the UK.
Client: Newark and Sherwood District Council
Collaborators: Studio Justine Fox
Location: Newark-on-Trent, UK
Completion: 2024
Funding: Levelling up Fund