Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm, 16 March 2021

16 March 2021 ¦ 16:00 – 18.00

Record of the meeting

Co-chairs:

Justine Simons OBE, Deputy Mayor for Culture and Creative Industries, 

Dr. Debbie Weekes-Bernard, Deputy Mayor for Social Integration, Social Mobility and Community Engagement  

Commissioners: 

Aindrea Emelife

Binki Taylor

David Bryan

Eleanor Pinfield

Gillian Jackson

Jack Guinness

Jasvir Singh

Revd Professor Keith Magee

Lynette Nabbosa

Pedro Gil

Robert Bevan

Sandy Nairne

Dr Zoé Whitley

Apologies 

Riz Ahmed

1. Introductions

• Commissioners were welcomed and updated on activity since the first meeting.

• The focus of this second meeting was on the Commission Programme Plan and Grant Programme.

2. Commission Programme Plan summary – three strands of work and key questions:

Improve Representation

• What is the current status of representation in the public realm?

• How can we make London’s public realm more equitable and welcoming?

Guidance and Best Practice

• What would a joined up approach across London look like?

• Do Londoners know how decisions are made about public realm?

• What are other cities doing globally?

Tell the full story

• What are the missing narratives around existing statues/place names?

• How can we showcase these, educate and encourage debate?

All the strands are underpinned by a commitment to wide engagement across London and inclusive representation.

Discussion points arising

• Important to support new/emerging projects and commissions.

• The programme is quite rightly focussed on adding to or retelling stories in the public realm and will also clarify how it will support the management of contested heritage.

• An evidence-based approach will be vital, gathering evidence from London, nationally and internationally.

• The programme is quite rightly focussed on adding to or retelling stories in the public realm and will also review projects where there have been positive approaches to addressing and recontextualising contested heritage e.g. St Pauls, Guys and St Thomas’s.

• Review approaches that address change in the round, such as recontextualising, relocation, digital etc.

• Consider how to best bring the public into the conversation, especially young people, many of whom are passionate about this subject.

• Depersonalise - create frameworks to look dispassionately at subjects and themes.

• Consider how to feed into/relate to the planning system.

• How might a grassroots grants programme improve representation on a locally?

• How will the Commission facilitate the long-term goals of the programme – recognise the two-year timeframe and seek to achieve long term impact.

• Consider the role of media in engaging in the narrative of the public realm.

3. Codesigning a Grant Programme

Five key feedback points from Breakout Group 1 – goals of a grants programme

• Small groups often prevented from accessing funding, grant programme should address this.

• A grant programme needs to unlock partnerships.

• Enable local communities to bridge the gap between the past and present.

• Ensure there is an understanding about expectation of quality.

• Look at tiering of grants and possibility of progression.

Five key feedback points from Breakout Group 2 – what makes a successful grants programme?

• Set clear goals at the outset and build the programme around those for clarity early on.

• Clear guidance on criteria but should not be too prescriptive.

• Simple application processes will remove barriers to entry.

• Provide support for those interested in applying.

4) AOB

• GLA is looking to rerun the Fix the Glitch Session in response to interest.

• Pre-Election Period commences on 22 March, the Commission will not meet during this period.

5. Next Steps

Actions

• GLA to circulate new dates for the Fix the Glitch Session.

• GLA to provide indication of resources available for the Commission programme and workstream.

• GLA/Commissioners to consider opportunities to lever partnership funding for grant programmes.