The multi-award winning 2019 project Haig Park Experiments successfully transformed Haig Park from an under utilised and dangerous park into a vital community hub in the heart of Canberra. The park’s transformation has increased social participation in the inner-city public realm, reduced social inequality for women, children and older adults who now feel safer in the park, and contributed to wellbeing by providing a vibrant green space.  

This seminar outlines the central role of creative play and placemaking in enabling this transformation by sharing the lesser-known stories from the 26 Experiments, and thus the power of the arts and creative play as an agent of social change.

Bio
Dr. Cathy Hope is Engagement and Impact Director and Coordinator of the Play, Creativity and Wellbeing Project in the Centre for Creative and Cultural Research in the Faculty of Arts and Design at the University of Canberra. Cathy’s research informs and supports the local creative industries and uses creative-led approaches to improve place and wellbeing outcomes in Canberra. Cathy has co-facilitated hundreds of playful projects with and for the Canberra community in partnership with local government, industry and community.

This presentation was accompanied by slides. To view the slides head to CathyHope_Presentation.pptx