A NEW project to “put the market back into a market town” is being discussed by community groups.
Halstead 21st Century Group is teaming up with the people behind the new Free Market Radicals Project set for the town.
The aim is to help residents, groups and businesses develop new cultural and heritage activities to support the local economy.
The project takes inspiration from times when markets and fairs were major cultural, economic and social events.
A spokesman for Halstead 21st Century Group said: “Town centres have been badly hit by Covid and there is a genuine need to continue reinventing them as shopping and leisure habits change.
“The project is funded by the National Lottery Emerging Futures Fund which aims to make the most of good ideas and community initiatives post-Covid.
“The first stage is to gather feedback from local people and businesses on what they see as the creative opportunities for their town.
“This will be matched with other research and used to help local people develop new or existing projects and events, secure funding and contribute to the future vibrancy of Halstead.
“The Free Market Radicals team has a wealth of experience in developing projects, securing funding, organising and staging events, commissioning new creative work and working on local economic, tourism and cultural policy.”
Cultural Engine CIC and Hundred Others CIC, two not-for-profit social enterprises, have teamed up to form the project which aims to help other market towns in Essex such as Braintree and Burnham.
Cultural Engine director Giles Tofield said: “Through the Free Market Radicals Project we are looking to the future, focusing specifically on market towns like Halstead, taking account of the challenges but also looking at the creative potential locally, particularly around heritage and culture.
“Throughout, we will be asking what does localism mean now in a 21st Century globalised economic context.
“This is particularly relevant post-Covid. Halstead is clearly a progressive place, with lots of dedicated people who are real doers and thinkers.
“We hope to help by providing evidence, research and insight to support groups to develop heritage, cultural and local regeneration projects - in the process taking a real stake in shaping the local economy.”
An online survey to gather information is available by clicking here.
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