Becoming the place to be

​If you have been following this blog, you may have noticed the​ ​use of a particular phrase about the renovated Adam Smith​ ​Theatre. We’ve been describing it as a ‘creative hub’. But what is that? Broadly speaking, a creative hub is a place where​ ​creative, cultural and enterprising things happen, the kind of​ ​interesting activities that attract people to it. There are plenty of​ ​good examples of such places in the world today, with each one​ ​having unique features on top of the qualities they tend to share.​ ​Creative hubs come in all sorts of shapes, sizes and styles.​​They’re usually physical spaces, although some are virtual​ ​affairs that operate in digital form. Those that are actual places​ ​often breathe fresh life into old buildings or warehouses. Others​ ​are stylish, contemporary constructions and impressive new landmarks. But they all exist for and depend on people. Because​ ​they draw people together: to work, to play, to watch, to learn –​ ​to do all sorts of things.

A handful of hubs

Here are just a few examples of creative hubs. The LocHal, in​ ​Tilburg in the Netherlands, is a vast former locomotive shed.​  ​It was converted into a public meeting space and centre for​ ​arts and culture. It now houses a café, co-working spaces and​ ​an exhibition area, to name just a few of its features. Closer to​ ​home, the Storyhouse in Chester is another mixed-use centre​ ​that emerged from an old art deco cinema. It’s expanded offering​ ​now includes a library, cinema, eateries and theatre spaces, plus​ ​special facilities for children.

In Aarhus, Denmark, Dokk1 is Scandinavia’s largest public library​ ​and a ‘multi-cultural meeting point’. It combines its library​ ​status with citizen services, media facilities, leasable units and​ ​a dedicated playground for younger visitors. These cases show​ ​how diverse the opportunities and features of a creative hub​ ​can be. They also demonstrate that many creative hubs evolve​ ​from somewhere with an original function, or develop around a​ ​core amenity. And be that a vehicle shed, a cinema, a library, or​ ​indeed a theatre, the places they turn into become something​ ​more.

A new hub here at home

Which links nicely with our own Adam Smith and the​ ​hopes we hold for its future. Because we expect its redesigned​ ​layout and spaces to be newly useful. We want to invite our​ ​community in to experience it, and take part in it, in all sorts​ ​of ways. Could the café bar host a group dedicated to sharing​ ​energy saving tips, or advice on the cost of living crisis? Would​ ​a new community choir be a good way to take advantage of the​ ​auditorium’s enhanced acoustics? And shouldn’t one or more​ ​of the new spaces be ideal for craft workshops or a makers​ ​market? Not sure about those ideas? Then please, tell us yours!​ ​Because yes, the new building will hopefully bring in artistic​ ​individuals and entrepreneurs. But we want Kirkcaldy’s new​ ​creative hub to be more accessible than that. We want it to​ ​appeal to you, to everyone else from the wider community,​ ​and to people from all walks of life. It shouldn’t be just a place​ ​for ‘arty types’. It should feel welcoming for all types. And if​ ​we achieve that, we can help to ensure that it’s relevant and​ ​rewarding for the diverse community it will serve.

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