What We Do Now (WWDN) is a collaborative project working with artists, communities and organisations across Dumfries & Galloway.
What We Do Now (WWDN) is a pilot for a Creative Placemaking Network for Dumfries and Galloway. It is led by the Stove Network, an award-winning arts and community organisation based in the heart of Dumfries town centre.
WWDN is one of 26 regional projects within a nationwide programme called Culture Collective, funded by Scottish Government and coordinated by Creative Scotland.
The Stove is supporting a community anchor group (place hub) in each of five towns in Dumfries and Galloway to host creative practitioners for an extended period to work with sections of the community in that place to co-create new future visions and practical projects. WWDN supports artists to explore bold new ideas with communities to give voices to those under-represented in local decision making.
Each of the five ‘Place Hubs’ are in or working with communities experiencing disadvantage. Each took part in The Stove’s research project ‘Embers: Creative Placemaking in South Scotland’. All have identified sections of their own community where COVID has accentuated existing disadvantage and exclusion and have some experience of working culturally.
Evaluation Report – September 2022
The What We Do Now – Evaluation Snapshot Sept. 2022 highlights key learnings from the project’s first phase as a resource for developing the potential and scope of creative placemaking to promote economic wellbeing, social enterprise, and community development within and beyond the WWDN project.
The two independent Evaluators for this report are: Jenny Elliott, Urban Designer (CMLI) and Visual Communication and Shawn Bodden, Geographer and Evaluation Researcher.
Your Place – September 2022
The Your Place multimedia exhibition told the story of What We Do Now so far, as documented by artists Kirstin McEwan and Patrick Rooney. Throughout the project photographer Kirstin and filmmaker Patrick documented the various activities and initiatives and will showcase the highlights of the initiative as part of this exhibition.
Echoes in Eternity:
The Story of What We Do Now (so far)
WWDN is supported by a regional partners group (DG Arts Festival, Wigtown Book Festival and Upland) and a strategic partners group (South of Scotland Enterprise, Dumfries & Galloway Council, Third Sector D&G and Skills Development Scotland) all of whom have supported the development of WWDN and will support the progress of ideas/projects as they emerge.
Creative Placemaking uses creative practice to engage communities at grassroots level, building on the existing culture, activity and relationships in each place. It brings people, communities, groups and organisations, public and third sector agencies together to co-develop better strategies for our places. It is a collaborative framework that allows communities to take a lead and creates opportunities for personal growth in participants, the growth of new initiative/enterprises and supports a sustainable creative and cultural sector.
‘Embers: Creative Placemaking in the South of Scotland’