Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison and the Creative City Pt. 3

By, Dr. Tara Inniss, Department of History and Philosophy, Cave Hill Campus

How can Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison become a Creative City?

The key to the success of Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison is Entrepreneurship and Creative Thinking through culture and heritage. Entrepreneurship has historically been a central unifying activity within Bridgetown. The creativity and ingenuity required for our enslaved ancestors “to make a way out of no way”, suggests that entrepreneurship and creativity are not unknown competencies for Barbadians. It would be fitting and necessary in the preservation and enhancement of Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison’s legacy for us to challenge ourselves to think of the many contributions we can make in the same spirit as those who have gone before.

Revitalizing Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison as a Creative City will require several inputs that require policy development and planning. The process will also need public-private sector partnerships that will incentivize local businesses and communities to awaken the potential of the creative city. Interested parties should look to the recent Cultural Industries legislation to assess whether these incentives for heritage and cultural development are adequate. By creating spaces where people can participate in entertainment and culture, while also being inspired by the past, Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison can become a Creative City.

Some examples of how this can be achieved include the following:

1.    Creating a Safe, Clean and Accessible City: This is the first priority for all of the ‘grand’ ideas that will come next, but it is vitally important to the island’s health and safety if we invest in good lighting, pedestrian-friendly sidewalks that are safe to navigate and proper sanitation, including ample garbage bins, recycling facilities and public conveniences. These are basic, necessary and fundamental investments in the health and well-being of the City's residents and visitors. For this reason alone, the site should have a designated Property Manager.

2.    Revitalize the ‘Living City’: 24/7 Cultural and Entertainment Programming with bars and restaurants for after-work ‘limes’, galleries, live music, etc.

3.     Harness the Creative Energy of the Past: Use the historical/ heritage values of the site to engage with the achievements and tensions of the past for creative purposes – let our young artists engage with the city’s landscape and to use it for cultural production.

4.     Develop Festivals, Events and Fairs: Build on existing programmes to create a calendar of events with the aid of a Cultural Programme Coordinator.

5.   Establish a Creative Hub: Use historic buildings for accessible and affordable creative incubators for people to meet, talk, work, exchange, perform and visit.

6.   Cluster (spatially) cultural and economic activities: Locate artisan manufacture and markets in traditional marketing areas

7.  Create Cultural Corridors: Link existing and historic buildings and spaces into places where visitors can experience museums, sport, theatre, entertainment and dining.

8.   Adaptive re-use of built heritage: Use our warehouses, port spaces, and buildings like Marshall Hall and Empire Theatre for studios, galleries, theatre spaces and entertainment areas with innovative dining options. If we take examples from other historic cities, there are a range of services in addition to incentives that are offered to property owners, including affordable access to Historic Restoration Designers/ Architects; Land Use Plans outlining potential property functions; Architectural renderings that provide a vision for heritage corridors.

9. Develop the potential of heritage resources: Utilize museums, libraries, and our vibrant intangible heritage to inspire, promote and display creativity.

10. Develop Artist-centre tourism and marketing products: Develop tour guiding resources; using technology to create apps/ downloads/ podcasts for interactive walking tours, music and art history.

The creation and designation of creative spaces will also stimulate economic opportunities for individuals and businesses in several skilled employment fields including: built environment practice (architects, planners, restoration trades, etc.) and tourism and hospitality (hotels, tour operators, food and beverage; vending, etc.). But, there are also a variety of emerging skills and expertise that is required in making this inscription and the continued development of the property a success, including: heritage practitioners (archaeologists, curators, designers, architects); community-based organisations (community-based action groups; advocates; youth leaders; etc) and cultural practitioners (artists, performers, musicians, etc.)

Barbadians can come together to reaffirm what is needed in the culture sector to ensure that what Government and the private sector support, develop and promote in terms of culture and cultural industries remain reflective, relevant and dynamic to all Barbadians, and especially our youth. The culture and heritage of Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison can be used as sustainable tools in Barbados’ economic development if we all have the vision use the patrimony built by our ancestors to harness the past and inspire creativity in the future.