Nottingham Community – The Island Quarter https://theislandquarter.com Tue, 19 May 2026 12:39:49 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 https://theislandquarter.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Untitled.png Nottingham Community – The Island Quarter https://theislandquarter.com 32 32 Multiplying value generation through mixed-use regeneration: How TIQ is quantifiably benefiting Nottingham https://theislandquarter.com/multiplying-value-generation-through-mixed-use-regeneration/ Tue, 24 Mar 2026 10:41:40 +0000 https://theislandquarter.com/?p=1183 Multiplying value generation through mixed-use regeneration: How TIQ is quantifiably benefiting Nottingham

 

By Chris Ware, managing director at Conygar, the developer behind The Island Quarter 

Successful regeneration is rarely defined only by what is built on a site. Its real impact is measured by the wider economic activity it unlocks across an entire city. 

Research from the Centre for Cities highlights just how powerful this effect can be, with every £1 of investment in regeneration and infrastructure, around £5 of private investment typically follows. This relationship is one of the defining characteristics of successful city transformation projects across the UK. 

Public investment often provides the foundations that make development viable. Improvements to transport, infrastructure, public realm and planning frameworks help create certainty and signal long-term confidence in a place. This encourages businesses, developers and investors to commit their own capital, accelerating growth and increasing the overall value generated by regeneration. 

In Nottingham, and across many UK cities, this multiplier effect is transforming former industrial or underused land into thriving mixed-use districts. The result is not just new buildings, but stronger local economies, new employment opportunities and neighbourhoods where people choose to live, work and spend time. 

Creating a catalyst for wider investment 

This dynamic is particularly relevant for large-scale urban regeneration projects. When a development creates new homes, workplaces, cultural venues and public spaces in a single masterplan, it becomes a catalyst for surrounding investment. 

Mixed-use regeneration plays a crucial role in this process. By bringing together residential, commercial and leisure uses, these developments create consistent footfall throughout the day and evening. This supports local businesses, increases economic resilience and encourages further investment in the surrounding area. 

Aerial photo of Nottingham from The Island Quarter

Regeneration in the context of Nottingham’s growth 

Nottingham is currently undergoing one of the most significant periods of city centre development in its recent history, with more than £4 billion of investment planned or underway across the city. 

Within this wider context, The Island Quarter represents one of the region’s most ambitious regeneration opportunities. The 36-acre brownfield site, once the beating heart of Nottingham’s industrial boom, is being transformed into a new district to live, work and play – building a connected neighbourhood designed to support both city life and economic growth. 

By creating a vibrant mixed-use destination in the heart of the city, we’re helping to contribute to the conditions that attract further investment and reinforce Nottingham’s reputation as a dynamic city that can meet modern needs. 

Building long-term economic resilience 

The long-term value of regeneration is not only measured in construction output or property investment. It is also reflected in stronger local economies, improved employment opportunities and cities that are better equipped to attract talent and innovation. 

This is why developments such as The Island Quarter are designed to deliver more than physical transformation. With an extensive programme of supporting activities delivered with Sneinton Primary School, to Binks Yard having become ingrained in Nottingham’s live events scene, we are creating a place that will remain active and economically resilient for decades. 

As the research demonstrates, regeneration works best when it acts as a catalyst. When public commitment encourages private investment and development is designed with long-term value in mind, the impact can reshape a city’s economic future.

]]> What makes urban regeneration projects successful? https://theislandquarter.com/what-makes-urban-regeneration-projects-successful/ Mon, 08 Dec 2025 12:00:24 +0000 https://theislandquarter.com/?p=1147 What makes urban regeneration projects successful?

 

By Chris Ware, managing director at Conygar, the developer behind The Island Quarter 

Urban regeneration has the power to transform overlooked or under-used spaces into vibrant, sustainable corners that can have a make full impact on a city’s economic, social, and cultural life.

At The Island Quarter, regeneration is at the heart of our vision, yet successful regeneration takes far more than new buildings or refreshed streetscapes. It requires a long-term, collaborative strategy with people, place, and purpose at its core. So what exactly makes an urban regeneration project thrive, and how can we ensure that The Island Quarter is truly ‘of Nottingham, for Nottingham’.  

A clear vision rooted in local identity 

Every great regeneration project starts with a strong sense of place. Rather than imposing a one-size-fits-all solution, successful developments look closely at a city’s heritage, its character, and how people actually move through and use the space. These are all considerations that feed into creating a masterplan that feels authentic and connected. At its best, regeneration doesn’t erase history, it builds on it, repurposing industrial, cultural, or architectural assets into something new that still feels familiar. A grounded, long-term vision helps attract investment and generate community support even as individual phases evolve. 

Community engagement from day one 

It is integral to integrate local people and ensure organisations are the heartbeat of plans for a regeneration scheme, with their needs, aspirations, and concerns shaping the project throughout its lifecycle. Regular engagement, transparent communication, and opportunities for residents and businesses to have a genuine say create trust and ensure the development enhances everyday life rather than disrupting it. 

The most successful regeneration projects grow organically with their communities, not in isolation from them. 

Mixing uses 

Vibrant quarters are rarely built around a single function but instead thrive when they blend living, working, leisure, culture, and green space in a way that feels seamless. Mixed-use masterplans encourage footfall, support local businesses, and make neighbourhoods feel safer and more welcoming. 

They also reflect the evolving behaviours of how people live today. Short commutes, access to amenities, flexible workspaces, and places to meet, eat, and unwind. 

High-quality public realm and green space

Regeneration should consider the spaces between places as much as the buildings themselves. 

Public realm design plays a huge role in how people experience places. Wide walkways, open plazas, landscaping, water features, cycling routes, lighting, and seating all contribute to creating a sense of comfort, safety and belonging. 

Green spaces deliver environmental benefits while offering much-needed breathing room. These pockets of space are often underappreciated in how they influence how people enjoy spending time in a location. 

Integrating sustainability into every decision 

Modern regeneration demands a future-focused approach and at The Island Quarter we’ve made it our mission to always consider how the site may function in ten, 20 and even 50 years’ time. 

Energy-efficient buildings, low-carbon transport connections, waste-reduction strategies, biodiversity improvements, and long-lasting materials are just some of the factors that can already be felt on site. 

Deep-rooted partnerships and long-term stewardship 

Large-scale regeneration succeeds when public and private partners work together. Collaboration between local authorities, developers, investors, and community organisations ensures each phase is delivered with shared goals and accountability. 

Importantly, success doesn’t end at completion, ongoing stewardship ensures that a site can continue to thrive, adapt and maintain its quality. 

Urban regeneration is most transformative when more than just the physical environment evolves. It creates opportunity, fosters pride, strengthens communities, and shapes the future of a city. 

And that continues to be the case as we approach the next phases at The Island Quarter, guiding everything we do as we bring new life to a historic area at the heart of Nottingham. 

What makes a site truly mixed-use? How important is the role of meanwhile use in achieving this on a large scale, and what role does community engagement play in overall success? 

Christopher Ware, managing director at Conygar, the developer behind The Island Quarter (TIQ), recently joined a panel at London Build 2025 to discuss ‘Under one roof: creating flexible mixed-use spaces for work, live and play’ and explored what this meant in reality at TIQ. 

The role of meanwhile versus permanent use 

Meanwhile uses are valuable for activating a site early, generating interest, and starting to build footfall. When it comes to generating a masterplan for a mixed-use development, where there are a complex mix of intended outcomes, it’s often the case that some meanwhile use is inevitable to make the plans viable and gain early public backing.

However, there’s also a real benefit in establishing a permanent space from the outset, something that can grow with the wider development and set the tone or benchmark for what’s coming next. The ideal scenario is a mix – meanwhile activity to keep things lively and flexible, alongside a permanent anchor that provides continuity and identity.

Importance of stakeholder involvement

For The Island Quarter, stakeholder engagement is, and always has been, essential. We took a comprehensive and collaborative approach to the initial engagement activity, bringing partners, local authorities, and community groups onboard early in the process.

It’s a site that people have a real interest in and want to see developed for the benefit of the region, so we know how it is to bring people on that journey with us.

Our initial stakeholder engagement helped shape the vision, smooth the planning pathway, and ensure the meanwhile and permanent plans aligned with wider expectations and needs. To date, we’ve engaged more than 150 individuals across 13 sessions, representing more than 45 organisations closely affiliated with communities across Nottingham.

Striking the balance with commercial viability

The focus should always be on what will encourage people to return repeatedly, not just visit once. A strong programme is key to this at mixed-use sites as it allowed people to invest in a variety of offerings not just recongise a space for one thing – that’s how it becomes commercially viable.

We’ve found that seasonal attractions like Christmas markets, summer concerts and aligning with big sporting events have proven very effective at The Island Quarter. The goal is to create a place people naturally think of for food, entertainment, and socialising, not just one occasion.

Commercial viability also comes from investing in your local audience. Our team is integrated into the Nottingham and wider East Midlands community, so they can provide an offering that’s actually wanted. We’ve worked hard to understand local behaviours, market gaps, and what will genuinely resonate with audiences. At The Island Quarter, the success has come from delivering something distinctive compared with other Nottingham venues, giving people a real reason to choose the site.

However, feasibility is equally important. A recurring challenge is aligning operational needs with the ambition for events and activity on the site. It’s about choosing the right events for the right audiences and making sure they’re viable from a staffing, logistics, and commercial perspective. There’s always a balance to strike between maximising revenue and doing what’s best for the community, brand, and long-term vision for the site. Finding that “sweet spot” is an ongoing learning process.

Gaining traction as a mixed-use location 

For the Island Quarter, most external organisations now approach the team directly, which shows the site’s growing reputation. However, this wasn’t the case at the beginning. The early events were harder to secure and there was more proactive outreach involved. As momentum grew and successful events built credibility, more well-known partners and organisers started coming forward.

This is a place we’ve worked hard to get to at The Island Quarter, but it’s not easy to build your credibility as a mixed-use location. Consistency, delivering what you’ve said you will and constant community engagement are essential.

Succeeding as a mixed-use development is challenging but with the right input from the community you’re wanting to engage, a flexible approach to space use and a balance of ambition versus feasibility, it is possible to create a thriving community to live, work and play.

]]> From meanwhile uses to long-term vision: What makes a mixed-use site thrive? https://theislandquarter.com/what-makes-a-mixed-use-site-thrive/ Thu, 20 Nov 2025 09:00:52 +0000 https://theislandquarter.com/?p=1143 From meanwhile uses to long-term vision: What makes a mixed-use site thrive?

What makes a site truly mixed-use? How important is the role of meanwhile use in achieving this on a large scale, and what role does community engagement play in overall success? 

Christopher Ware, managing director at Conygar, the developer behind The Island Quarter (TIQ), recently joined a panel at London Build 2025 to discuss ‘Under one roof: creating flexible mixed-use spaces for work, live and play’ and explored what this meant in reality at TIQ. 

The role of meanwhile versus permanent use 

Meanwhile uses are valuable for activating a site early, generating interest, and starting to build footfall. When it comes to generating a masterplan for a mixed-use development, where there are a complex mix of intended outcomes, it’s often the case that some meanwhile use is inevitable to make the plans viable and gain early public backing.

However, there’s also a real benefit in establishing a permanent space from the outset, something that can grow with the wider development and set the tone or benchmark for what’s coming next. The ideal scenario is a mix – meanwhile activity to keep things lively and flexible, alongside a permanent anchor that provides continuity and identity.

Importance of stakeholder involvement

For The Island Quarter, stakeholder engagement is, and always has been, essential. We took a comprehensive and collaborative approach to the initial engagement activity, bringing partners, local authorities, and community groups onboard early in the process.

It’s a site that people have a real interest in and want to see developed for the benefit of the region, so we know how it is to bring people on that journey with us.

Our initial stakeholder engagement helped shape the vision, smooth the planning pathway, and ensure the meanwhile and permanent plans aligned with wider expectations and needs. To date, we’ve engaged more than 150 individuals across 13 sessions, representing more than 45 organisations closely affiliated with communities across Nottingham.

Striking the balance with commercial viability

The focus should always be on what will encourage people to return repeatedly, not just visit once. A strong programme is key to this at mixed-use sites as it allowed people to invest in a variety of offerings not just recongise a space for one thing – that’s how it becomes commercially viable.

We’ve found that seasonal attractions like Christmas markets, summer concerts and aligning with big sporting events have proven very effective at The Island Quarter. The goal is to create a place people naturally think of for food, entertainment, and socialising, not just one occasion.

Commercial viability also comes from investing in your local audience. Our team is integrated into the Nottingham and wider East Midlands community, so they can provide an offering that’s actually wanted. We’ve worked hard to understand local behaviours, market gaps, and what will genuinely resonate with audiences. At The Island Quarter, the success has come from delivering something distinctive compared with other Nottingham venues, giving people a real reason to choose the site.

However, feasibility is equally important. A recurring challenge is aligning operational needs with the ambition for events and activity on the site. It’s about choosing the right events for the right audiences and making sure they’re viable from a staffing, logistics, and commercial perspective. There’s always a balance to strike between maximising revenue and doing what’s best for the community, brand, and long-term vision for the site. Finding that “sweet spot” is an ongoing learning process.

Gaining traction as a mixed-use location 

For the Island Quarter, most external organisations now approach the team directly, which shows the site’s growing reputation. However, this wasn’t the case at the beginning. The early events were harder to secure and there was more proactive outreach involved. As momentum grew and successful events built credibility, more well-known partners and organisers started coming forward.

This is a place we’ve worked hard to get to at The Island Quarter, but it’s not easy to build your credibility as a mixed-use location. Consistency, delivering what you’ve said you will and constant community engagement are essential.

Succeeding as a mixed-use development is challenging but with the right input from the community you’re wanting to engage, a flexible approach to space use and a balance of ambition versus feasibility, it is possible to create a thriving community to live, work and play.

]]> From Classroom to Community: The Island Quarter’s Work with Sneinton Primary School https://theislandquarter.com/from-classroom-to-community-the-island-quarters-work-with-sneinton-primary-school/ Fri, 31 Oct 2025 11:40:58 +0000 https://theislandquarter.com/?p=1126 Building futures: How TIQ grows with Sneinton C of E primary school

At its core, successful long-term regeneration should build meaningful connections, opportunities for the community and pride that lasts for generations. That’s why our partnership with Sneinton C of E Primary School, just a short walk from our site, has become one of the most rewarding and meaningful aspects of our journey so far. 

Sowing the seeds 

From the earliest days of our project, we wanted local people to feel that The Island Quarter was their space. Our relationship with Sneinton Primary began when we invited pupils to quite literally leave their mark on the future of Nottingham through each creating a handprint clay tile. 

This simple idea was about helping children see themselves as part of the story as they grow alongside the site. The pupils also planted wildflower seeds and buried a time capsule on site, creating a living legacy within the landscape we’re building. 

Learning and opportunity  

Since then, our relationship has blossomed. We’ve supported through fundraising and direct contributions – including £1,500 to help fund a new pupil leadership room and earlier, the donation of iPads to support learning during the pandemic. 

For the past two years we’ve marked our connection with hosting the school’s annual Christmas pilgrimage at Upstairs at Cleaver & Wake – a much-loved event that sees children and teachers journey from the school to our site to celebrate the nativity and get the chance to perform songs together.   

Hearing the pupils perform on our stage, encouraged by their teachers and support staff, reminded us on the importance of creating moments of joy, pride and belonging – the kind of experiences that bring new places to life. 

Celebrating local voices 

We’ve also welcomed pupils to share their own poetry inspired by their vision of The Island Quarter 20 years from now. The children proudly read poems on the Binks Yard stage imagining what the area could become – vibrant, inclusive, full of life. 

This opportunity reflects how Binks Yard is becoming more than a venue but a public space where Nottingham’s voices can be heard. By hosting events like these, we hope to show young people that their ideas and creativity are central to the city’s story. 

Why partnerships like this matter 

Urban regeneration only succeeds when it is rooted in trust and shared purpose. Working with Sneinton Primary gives us the chance to engage directly with the next generation, to listen and learn, and to ensure our development reflects the community around it.   

For us, this partnership demonstrates how regeneration can deliver real social value, supporting education, encouraging creativity, and creating spaces that feel welcoming and inclusive. Every poem written, every handprint made and every Christmas song sung at Binks Yard has already helped to build a living connection between The Island Quarter and the city we’re proud to be part of. 

]]> Nottingham artist panels proudly presented at The Island Quarter outdoor gallery https://theislandquarter.com/nottingham-artist-panels-proudly-presented-at-the-island-quarter-outdoor-gallery-6/ Tue, 05 Mar 2024 12:05:49 +0000 https://theislandquarter.com/?p=646

Nottingham artist panels showcased at The Island Quarter outdoor gallery

Local artists have gathered to celebrate their artwork being prominently displayed in the first outdoor art gallery at The Island Quarter

Nine panels have been created by a selection of artists whose proposed designs caught the eye of The Island Quarter team and Reiss Mallett, a renowned local street artist who has supported the project. The designs were selected from a high number of submissions following a callout to local artists last year to get involved in the first art project on the site.

Displayed below the plinth on London Road, the panels are primely positioned for viewing by people passing along the canal path. They also sit adjacent to the popular restaurant and event venues at 1 The Island Quarter, Binks Yard and Cleaver & Wake, which are frequented by hundreds of visitors daily.

Arpita Anstey, marketing director at The Island Quarter, said: “Through the outdoor gallery, we wanted to celebrate Nottingham’s vibrant street art seen by offering a unique opportunity for artists to showcase their creative talents in an area at the heart of the city that is rapidly regenerating.

“The artists have done an incredible job bringing their designs to life. From modern art to abstract-oriented designs, the panels proudly illustrate the diverse abundance of talented creative minds in Nottingham. This marks the start of a key connection between The Island Quarter and Nottingham through art and we’re excited for more artistic projects to come as the site evolves.”

Several of the artists who created designs attended the official unveiling of the panels, including Laura Decorum, Nick Wright, Alex Rubes, and Reggie Pugh.

Reggie Pugh, who created a contemporary floral paneltogether with her sister Gina Harries-Pugh, said: “I previously heard about the art opportunities at The Island Quarter when the Boots mural competition was launched. Despite not being part of that project, I was eager to get involved and contacted the team who told me about the outdoor gallery.

“It’s been a fantastic way to be part of such a significant scheme for the city and it’s great to see my panel, which I completed with my sister, presented in a prominent place on site alongside the other artists’ work.”

To learn more about art projects at The Island Quarter, scan the QR code on the panel at the gallery, or visit the Art @ TIQ webpage.

]]> #TIQandYou – Custodians https://theislandquarter.com/tiqandyou-custodians/ Tue, 21 Nov 2023 12:23:56 +0000 https://theislandquarter.com/?p=669

#TIQandYou – Custodians

As part of The Island Quarter’s commitment to echo and represent the communities that will enjoy it in the future, the design team is holding a series of engagement sessions to gather ideas, opinions and insights that will inform its work going forward.

Led by John Morgan of masterplanner Leonard Design Architects and David Jones of planning consultant Axis PED, the sessions touch on a broad range of topics and issues and feed into The Island Quarter’s wider development strategy.

In the fifth of our #TIQandYOU series, we discuss October’s custodian session, which brought together the key changes discussed throughout previous engagement events into an updated landscape-led masterplan.

“Wherever people look there are activities.”
“We’re learning from other cities to bring in knowledge of what has worked well.”
“It’s great to see the energy with this site. There’s a common theme that always going to integrate and change.” 

Bringing together a selection of attendees from the various engagement sessions held throughout the last 18 months, the custodian session was an opportunity to discuss the overall feedback and suggestions and how they have been incorporated into the updated designs for The Island Quarter as a whole.

With representation from the areas of sustainability, ecology and transportation – as well as members of the public – this latest session showcased how the proposals for our site have developed in response to their input.

This included a renewed focus on connectivity, both throughout the site itself and with the wider cityscape, prioritising sustainable travel and pedestrian access.

These changes anchor our site within Nottingham and the city’s unique heritage, ensuring it meets our mantra of The Island Quarter being ‘of Nottingham, for Nottingham’ and forms part of the city’s tapestry, unique heritage and personality.

Our ongoing conversations around sustainable travel have informed some of the key features of the masterplan, with pedestrian and cycle access prioritised throughout The Island Quarter’s access hierarchy.

We also want to ensure that the green space on site is as much of a feature as the buildings that form the built landscape. This means significant greenery throughout with shading through tree canopy coverage. and a permeable and accessible approach to pathways so pedestrians feel safe throughout our development.

The masterplan has developed significantly in recent months and much of this evolution has been informed by these progressive discussions from our ongoing engagement efforts with various groups from across the city.

We are proud to be creating spaces that are accessible, and adaptive enough to meet changing needs.

We will be soon commencing the second phase of our engagement process, as we continue to gain valuable input from the public and organisations who are helping to make this project as beneficial as possible to the short and long-term needs for the city.

]]> Custodians excited by landscape-led design following first phase of engagement https://theislandquarter.com/custodians-excited-by-landscape-led-design-following-first-phase-of-engagement/ Wed, 18 Oct 2023 11:26:26 +0000 https://theislandquarter.com/?p=672

Custodians welcome landscape-led design after first phase of engagement

Nottingham organisations supporting the engagement process for The Island Quarter site gathered for a custodian event to see and discuss the latest progress being made to the landmark development.

The event brought together members of the public and key figures in the areas of sustainability, ecology and transportation, to showcase how the proposals for the 36-acre site have developed in response to their input from sessions held over the last 18 months.

The landscape-led masterplan for the site focuses on connectivity, both throughout the site itself and with the wider cityscape, prioritising sustainable travel and pedestrian access – anchoring the development within Nottingham and the city’s unique heritage.

Christopher Ware, property director at The Conygar Investment Company PLC, said: “The Island Quarter is a development ‘of Nottingham, for Nottingham’ and it’s hugely important that it forms a part of the city’s tapestry, reflecting its unique heritage and personality.

“The masterplan has developed significantly in recent months and much of this evolution has been informed by the progressive discussions from our ongoing engagement efforts with various groups from across the city, making it clear we need to create spaces that are accessible and adaptive to meet changing needs as the masterplan continues to evolve.

“We will be soon commencing the second phase of our engagement process, as we continue to gain valuable input from the public and organisations who are helping to make this project as beneficial as possible to the short and long-term needs for the city.”

Connectivity and sustainable travel are key features of the masterplan, with pedestrian and cycle access prioritised throughout the development’s access hierarchy – as well as linking into the existing city networks to promote easy access and integration into the wider area. The development will also benefit from significant green spaces throughout, with intentions to incorporate significant shading through tree canopy coverage.

Proposals include wider paths, offering ease of use for a variety of different groups, a permeable and accessible approach to pathways allowing pedestrians to feel safe throughout the development, a proactive strategy for cycle storage for those working and living on site as well as visitors. New transport hubs offering active frontages alongside car parking, EV charging and cycle storage and changing facilities will also feature.

]]> Conygar bags developer of the year award https://theislandquarter.com/conygar-bags-developer-of-the-year-award/ Fri, 08 Sep 2023 11:30:42 +0000 https://theislandquarter.com/?p=681

Conygar named Developer of the Year in industry awards

The developer behind The Island Quarter is celebrating today after picking up the Developer of the Year prize at the East Midlands Property Awards.

The Conygar Investment Company beat off competition from the likes of Bildurn, St James Securities and Harworth Group to secure the prize, topping off a year of incredible progress at The Island Quarter.

Having completed the site’s opening phase in September 2022, work has progressed across the development at pace, with Phase 2A – comprising nearly 700 beds of purpose-built student accommodation – set for handover in summer 2024.

The year also saw an updated masterplan for the site launched at UKREiiF, alongside a successful planning application for 245,000 sq ft of bioscience space on the 36-acre site’s northern edge.

Christopher Ware, property director at Conygar, said: “Almost a year to the day since Binks Yard first opened its doors, this award is testament to everyone that has helped The Island Quarter reach not just the point we’re at today, but what we’re looking to achieve in the coming years.

“This category always has a strong field, particularly given the quality of development that is taking place across the East Midlands at the moment, so to take home this award is a real honour and something that will give us even greater impetus to continue bringing this development forward.”

The award’s judges paid homage to Conygar social return on investment of 53% – achieved by hiring 150 locally to date on 1 The Island Quarter and the wider project delivery team.

The development has also generated £6m in local spend and provided employment for 35 people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

]]> Sneinton school kids share poems on the Binks Yard stage https://theislandquarter.com/sneinton-school-kids-share-poems-on-the-binks-yard-stage/ Mon, 24 Jul 2023 11:32:12 +0000 https://theislandquarter.com/?p=684

Sneinton schoolchildren perform poems on Binks Yard stage

 

CHILDREN from Sneinton C of E Primary School enjoyed an end of term treat at 1 The Island Quarter’s canalside venue Binks Yard, today with the opportunity to share their poetry on the venue’s outdoor stage.

The Year 6 pupils were the stars of the show as they read out poems they had written about what life at The Island Quarter will be like in 20 years.

Some of the children were also reunited with handprint tiles they created when the school was invited to the site’s groundbreaking ceremony in May 2021.

These handprints will now be placed at various locations around The Island Quarter site, alongside other tiles cast by dignitaries that attended the original event.

Julie Doyle, assistant head teacher at Sneinton C of E School (pictured left), said: “When we told the children about this event, they were absolutely thrilled – we couldn’t think of a better end of term treat for them all than to come down and enjoy The Island Quarter.

“Conygar and The Island Quarter team have been amazing supporters of our school for several years now, and we can’t thank them enough for creating opportunities like this for our pupils. With the readings and the handprints, it’s just been a perfect day for them.”

The event is the latest in a series of activities involving the school, after Conygar initially donated £2,500 to buy iPads for students to support their remote learning during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Since then, the developer has supported the school with a series of initiatives; most recently contributing £1,500 for its pupil leadership room.

Richard Watson of The Island Quarter’s project delivery team said: “Our vision with The Island Quarter is to create a community not just for now, but for the future.

“By creating events and opportunities like this for the children at the school and others in the local area, we can build a sense of inclusiveness and openness around what The Island Quarter can offer, and create a development that is of Nottingham, for Nottingham.”

]]> New outdoor gallery gives “unique” opportunity to local artists https://theislandquarter.com/new-outdoor-gallery-gives-unique-opportunity-to-local-artists/ Mon, 17 Jul 2023 11:34:39 +0000 https://theislandquarter.com/?p=687

New outdoor gallery offers “unique” opportunity for local artists

THE TEAM behind The Island Quarter is offering artists the opportunity to have their work displayed on one of the development’s most prominent viewing spots as part of its ongoing work to promote Nottingham’s culture.

Aspiring creatives are being given the chance to take over a series of nine panels that will become the development’s first outdoor gallery, situated on the canalside plinth opposite 1 The Island Quarter – home of Binks Yard and Cleaver & Wake.

Open to professional and amateur artists alike, the designs will be displayed throughout the summer, with the gallery curated by Reiss Mallett, The Island Quarter’s artist in residence.

Mallet said: “This is a unique opportunity for artists from any background to get involved and have their work displayed at one of the city’s newest and most prominent hotspots. We want to see people really express their passion not just for Nottingham as it is today or in the past, but the city’s future.

“It’s all about creating something we can collectively be proud of, and that will reflect the positivity around The Island Quarter.”

The outdoor gallery is the latest opportunity created by The Island Quarter for local artists to share their work, after the commissioning of a mural on the side of the Live @ Binks stage, designed by Lucy Bright last year.

Richard Watson of The Island Quarter’s project delivery team said, “We want The Island Quarter to be a space where creative talent from across Nottinghamshire and the UK can display their brilliant work, and that is exactly what our first outdoor gallery will provide. We’re looking for designs for these initial nine panels that share a positive message and really illustrates the great energy that there is around the city. There will be further galleries around the Island Quarter as it develops.

“With the passing traffic on the canal and the Binks Yard terrace just across the water, this gallery will be seen by hundreds of people every day throughout the summer, so it really is a fantastic opportunity for local artists to display their talent.”

The chosen artists will have the opportunity to paint between one and nine of the panels depending on their design plans and will have the necessary materials provided to work on the 4ft by 8ft panels.

To register your interest and submit your design, or for further information, contact: theislandquarter@cartwrightcommunications.co.uk.

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