Post-Pandemic Music Ecosystems: How They Can Be Better in 2021: Part 3
This is part 3 of a series of articles about the future of music ecosystems in a post-pandemic world. The objective is to demonstrate that no matter where you live, 2021 can be a great year. Here’s Part 1, Part 2, Part 4 and Part 5.
COVID-19 need not usher in the death of cities. Its recovery can usher in the best in cities and places. Investing in music ecosystems is how.
I have never been to Barrow-in-Furness. But their regeneration strategy makes me want to visit (post lockdown). As covered in The Guardian, the town is bidding for £25m from the UK Towns Fund to invest in cultural regeneration (culture in the widest sense of the word — playgrounds, parks, independent businesses, murals, public art, music and performing arts). Barrow is small and isolated. It is home to 57,000 people and is 45 minutes from the nearest motorway. But with people come creativity and instead of digging up and processing what’s in the ground, Sam Plum, the Borough Council CEO, is investing in his residents. A random group was assembled to discuss ways to better support the town. Investing in parks, playgrounds, independent shops and performing arts was agreed by consensus.
Barrow recognises that it can expedite its recovery by investing in its creative output. This is echoed by Richard Florida…
