Community Planning: Methods
Street stall
- description
- more detail
- more pictures
Street stalls are interactive displays held out of doors. They make it possible to secure the views of larger numbers of people than is normally possible indoors. They are particularly useful where the views of people using a particular street or public space are required.
A highly public location is selected and exhibition and interactive display material mounted for a selected period.
Facilitators are on hand to encourage people to make comments and engage in debate.
The event may be advertised in advance but this is not essential.
A highly public location is selected and exhibition and interactive display material mounted for a selected period.
Facilitators are on hand to encourage people to make comments and engage in debate.
The event may be advertised in advance but this is not essential.
Photocredits
Bath, UK, 1997, Nick Wates
Bath, UK, 1997, Nick Wates
Taking to the streets
Shoppers join in a debate on the future of the town centre by writing on Post-it notes, sketching their own ideas and holding discussions with the organisers. Over 2,000 Post-it notes were posted up over 5 hours on a cold winter day and two books filled with comments. The results were used to prepare a scheme for one of the most important development sites in the town.
Tips
- Arcades and colonnades are good venues as they provide shelter from the rain. Ideal if you can also have the use of a shop.
- Can benefit from, and be attractive for, radio and television coverage. Leaflets can also be handed out to passers-by and placed in shop windows.
- Be careful when using Post-it notes and leaflets if windy conditions are likely; they may blow away!
- Getting formal permission to set up a stall in a public area can take forever. Plan well ahead or just do it and be prepared to move if necessary.
- Likely to attract a broader range of people than an indoor event, but marginalised groups or reticent individuals may still need special inducement to participate. Have a 'postbox' so that people can make contributions anonymously.
Costs
- Main costs: display material; staff time.
Inspiration
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"The street stall proved to be an invaluable and invigorating experience for us all. We were overwhelmed by the interest taken... and all subsequent developments of our scheme were made against the backdrop of what the people of Bath wanted to see."
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"The day had a certain verve which boosted and was reinforced by the strong level of interest of passers-by. It was good for the Trust to be involved in something as popular and constructive; we are often portrayed as being elitist and negative."
Taking to the streets
Shoppers join in a debate on the future of the town centre by writing on Post-it notes, sketching their own ideas and holding discussions with the organisers. Over 2,000 Post-it notes were posted up over 5 hours on a cold winter day and two books filled with comments. The results were used to prepare a scheme for one of the most important development sites in the town.
Photocredits
Bath, UK, 1997, Nick Wates
Bath, UK, 1997, Nick Wates
