For businesses and organisations, placemaking comes down to attracting further visitors by enhancing a development or space. For individuals to return to these places, it is about creating an unforgettable experience, and a sense of community.
This is exactly why music and placemaking work in perfect harmony – for all involved. Here, we explore how music can take any placemaking project to the next level…
In the vibrant world of placemaking, where creativity meets community, one cannot overlook the powerful role that music plays in transforming public spaces.
Perhaps it’s the presence of a jazz band, an acoustic trio, a DJ, a singer or even a curated playlist, but music has a magical ability to enhance spaces and draw in visitors who will, more often than not, want to come and see just what they are missing.
In this exploration, we dive into the significance of music in placemaking projects, the fascinating qualities that music brings to placemaking, and how music can transform the public realm for people, places and communities…
Music as a connector
When you think about creative placemaking and activating a public area, it’s crucial that you’re establishing an inviting atmosphere that connects people. Public spaces must be active, accessible and enable socialising amongst the community, something that is incredibly important in today’s world (Eifler, 2017).
Music, being a universal language, serves as a strong connector. Cultural experiences at the heart of public realm activations bring people together through art, design, dance, and music. Music’s role in cultural exchange provides valuable insights into different ways of life, promoting understanding and connectivity among diverse communities.
The Skate Park we brought to life at Cabot Circus – Bristol’s shopping destination – showed how events can connect communities through music. Creating a temporary space for skateboarders to come together and celebrate their joint passion was one aspect of this event, which we produced for property developer Hammerson, but we wanted to take the event to create an pulsing environment that would attract further visitors from around the centre. We therefore organised live DJ sets to take place in the evenings and during competition times, creating a lively atmosphere for skaters and observers with the eclectic sounds of Dazed Muzic, Alfresco and Fem Collective. This gave skaters the rhythm, drive and confidence to fully immerse themselves in the experience through art, sport, and music combined, while driving footfall to the event space.
Public realm as more than just a place
Research shows that areas that promote interesting and communal activities for everyone are more attractive places to live and visit and, make communities feel safer and stronger and even help tackling crime. Investing in cultural experiences is one of the most rewarding transformations: about half of all visitors to the UK cite culture as their main reason for visiting.
A public realm that understands the importance of music can leverage its potential to create employment, nurture talent, enhance engagement, but ultimately, make better places to live, work and play with the community at its centre (Saphiro, 2023).
This process develops, not only through the creative process that placemaking has at its core, but through physical and sensational interactions. Sound and music are such an important sense to explore, as it orients and guides people through their physical surroundings. Sounds open a phenomenal array of creative solutions to placemaking, shaping the spaces and giving a sense of new height, depth, and extension.
Music can also celebrate diversity. Producing London’s first ever Uzbek Culture & Food Festival in collaboration with the Uzbek Government and Oshpaz, we invited over 6,000 guests to enjoy a variety of Uzbek culture in the heart of London – including artists and DJs who travelled over 3,000 from Uzbekistan especially for the event.
Musical placemaking as a crucial placemaking tool
The term ‘musical placemaking’ describes the creation and involvement of music through a local, community-focused lens. Successful placemaking projects incorporate local history, represent underrepresented communities, and connect people to places.
Working with London BID Better Bankside to produce the iconic Frost Fair – a historic event where mini ice ages between 1605 to 1814 would completely freeze the Thames – brought markets, entertainment, food and drink to guests around the area together. Better Bankside wanted us to help bring this fantastic historical fair to life with a strong focus on celebrating the local community. So, we worked with our trusted entertainment agency to provide a range of musical performances that kept the audience singing and dancing throughout the whole weekend. This fantastic mix of placemaking and music within the public realm gave local guests the opportunity to gather together and enjoy the Frost Fair in style, and it was later celebrated with a long segment on ITV News for the whole country to see.
It’s essential to consider how strongly music affects human behaviour, society, and history. Music’s impact for change has seen its major changes in society and human rights, with songs that have broken down barriers, educated people and built empathy. Continuously, music sheds light on inequality and will always be an agent to change it (ACCSC, 2023).
American composer George Tsz-Kwan Lam works with ‘musical placemaking’ creating projects that incorporate music through a local, community-focused lens. His works The Emigrants and Family Association showcase the impact that music and auditory channels have on people’s experience within a space and understanding its history, whilst also exploring how the absence of a visual record can create more space for a musical comprehension and expand the audience’s emotions (Lam, 2024).
However, the careful consideration of music’s impact on the placemaking event and its environment is crucial. Whether providing entertainment or creating ambience, the choice of songs, style, volume levels and setting should align with the social objectives of the event and its space (Jim Walker, Project for Public Spaces, 2023).
At We Are Placemaking, we recognise the diverse role of music in our projects. From national celebrations to seasonal events, competitive socialising activations, sports gatherings, light installations and so much more, we carefully curate music options that enhance these events and align with the goals of our initiatives. Our approach ensures a harmonious blend of creativity, culture, and connectivity, turning public spaces into vibrant hubs for community engagement and growth.
As we continue to explore and innovate in the realm of placemaking, the harmonious integration of music stands as a testament to its transformative influence on communities, making every place not just a location, but a thrilling event.
