Public Voice: Common Ground is working with the Government of Jersey’s Retail and Visitor Economy to install pop-up windows in empty shop fronts at the top end of Queen Street.
Partners include Jersey Opera House, Silhouette, Mailmate and Columbia Estates. It is hoped that by showing what is possible, more landlords will follow suit and be more receptive to filling their properties on a short term or pop-up basis.
Charlotte Howe, Sector Officer for Retail & Visitor Economy explained: “The High Street offers Islanders windows onto what goes on in the street as well as windows to peer inside and discover something new.
“When windows are left without any element of theatre, it is a real shame for our community, as it is an opportunity missed. The future of retail is community, creativity and connection. We have taken this opportunity to work with the Columbia, the landlords of these prominent buildings on Queen Street and Public Voice, Common Ground to ask our Islanders important questions and give them some visually stimulating conversation starters.
“What a wonderful way to set the tone for other Landlords and those who can play a part in improving our public realm.”
Public Voice: Common Ground Founder Sasha Gibb said: “I have professional artists and retailers wanting to use these empty buildings for pop-ups and short term lets. This is good for the public, good for the businesses and good for life on the high street. The community have already told us that they want to see more of this kind of thing – we need to make it easier.”
Without giving the game away, the public should look out for exhibitions of work by local artists as a result of Lé Galvaûdeux, ‘the wander’ created by artist Tim le Breuilly and the Lé Galvaûdeux print workshop.
The ex-Moonsoon window will be showcasing work from a drawing workshop at this year’s Children’s Day. Children were asked to draw ‘what does wonderful look like for St Helier’. The answer from one 10 year old was: “Why are they taking away the fun stuff and building all these flats?”
All locals are invited to imagine what they’d like to experience in our High Street. ‘What Should Appear Here?’ asks islanders to share their aspirations, so that this information can impact decision making for our high street and help enable a St Helier where we all want to live, work, shop and spend time.
Tonight at 5 o’clock, late night shoppers will be entertained by a mystery flash mob in the ex-Monsoon window.
