Brief: To produce a collaborative screen printed A6 hotdog book based on an experience/research on a set location. Our group of 5 were given the location of Kirkgate Market - a really great location due to its size, stalls and status within Leeds. Loads goes on here so plenty of options for visual solutions to this brief.
The first day of the brief I was unable to make the trip to the market with my group, however to make sure I didn't miss out on what it was all about - I was able to do TONS of research on our location.
Main Research Points: History
- Built in 1857 due to a demand for markets and food halls.
- Expansion and success of the market played a huge part in Leeds being granted city status in 1893.
-1904 - The large entrance hall built (main entrance in image 1)
- Christmas 1975 - The great fire (below)Main Research Points: Recent times
- Currently one of the largest markets in Europe
- Has over 800 stalls (inside and out) and 100,000 visitors a week (although this is declining)
- Owned and managed by Leeds City Council
- The market employs 2,000 people directly but many more indirectly and informally making an estimate of 22% of retail employees in Leeds city centre.
- Traders have to pay the highest rents in the North (amongst some of the highest in the country)
- The market is one of the last remaining independent public spaces in Leeds city centre
- Due to focus and interest in new stores and shopping centres elsewhere across Leeds, over the past 15 years there has been little investment in the market and its buildings. This has caused vast deterioration throughout the market where areas have been left to ruin, to the point were traders have had to leave and shoppers experience affected.
- Plans for a luxury shopping centre next to the market opens in 2016
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Researching about the market was really enjoyable as it has had so much history and drama throughout its lifetimes and it's influence on Leeds has been so great. It was sad to find out that after all this time, the future of the market is so unclear. It has been a more cheap, more ethical and more environmentally friendly place to shop for so long, that its closure would have a really big impact on the people that rely on it. (Mainly people from the poorer neighbourhoods, the elderly, students in leeds and the traders themselves who need their business to stay afloat).
The market traders are now having to fight for its survival in order to keep livelihoods going, whilst paying the highest stall rent in leeds to sell products in a deteriorating location.
Petitions for the market, its survival and fair treatment of its traders is an ongoing act by a group called Friends of Leeds Kirkgate Market: https://kirkgatemarket.wordpress.com/
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I hope the rest of the group were able to get some good visuals from the trip and combined with the research I have found I am sure we will come up with a good theme for our book.
Notes: A few theme ideas for book:
- the market and its unclear future
- trading conditions
- market conditions / shoppers experience
- types of people who use the market
- a history of the market and it use throughout its lifetime
Now to meet with the rest of my group and generate some ideas
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