Investing In Small, Creative Businesses Can Bring Our High Streets Back To Life


credit: nyas

"A great deal of city center space lies vacant, but it needn't be that way."

That's the opinion of Sally Reaper, co-director of Look Again, Gray's School of Art's creative unit, in an op-ed in the Aberdeen Press and Journal.

With that in mind, Look Again and Culture Aberdeen have teamed up to transform empty shop units in Aberdeen's city center into temporary retail spaces, art installations, and pop-up shops, all supported by short-term leases.

"One of the biggest challenges small businesses face are start-up rates," Reaper writes.

"Rents are often too high, and the legalities too cumbersome.

If we are to move forward from this problem, locally or nationally, there has to be a change to the rateable value.

Only by investing in our creative communities and by developing sustainable, affordable city center living and workspaces can we provide small businesses and creatives with the opportunity to be present in our city centers."

To that end, Look Again and Culture Aberdeen are working with local creatives, freelance artists, and community groups to "recode the city center, so that community groups have a bigger role, and so that we can bring the area's soul back," Reaper said.

Read the Entire Article


Selected Grant News Headlines

A customized collection of grant news from foundations and the federal government from around the Web.

Pvamu Launches Presidential Executive-in-Residence Program With Dr. Mathew Knowles

PVAMU launches Presidential Executive-in-Residence Program with Dr. Dr. John Curnow.Master classes include: From Solopreneur to Entrepreneur: Clarifying Myths, Embracing Mindset, and Building a Life...more

Universal Music Group and the Ucla Herb Alpert School of Music Establish Music Scholarship

Universal Music Group and the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music establish music scholarship.The scholarship builds on the 2024 launch of the UCLA Berry Gordy Music Industry Center at the school of...more

Program Coordinator, Professional Apprentice Program

Part-time seasonal position supports the Professional Apprentice Program.Responsible for managing daily operations, coordinating with departments, and providing administrative support to ensure the...more

Cannon Applauds Grant to Support Adult Arts Program

Moultrie Colquitt County Parks and Recreation Authority awarded $5,000 grant.Georgia Council for the Arts recently announced more than $1.3 million in competitive grant funding.Grant funding will be...more

With Nea Funding Slashed, Arts Institutions Serving Black Communities Face An Uncertain Future

The Metropolitan of Art's Costume Institute recently raised a historic $31 million at its annual Met Gala.The NEA was the primary funding source for the Billie's Black Arts Initiative (BBAI) BBAI is...more

Sphinx Works to Diversify the World of Classical Music As Funding Contracts

Sphinx Works to Diversify the World of Classical Music as Funding Contracts.Sphinx has launched six successful classical ensembles, commissioned nearly 100 works by composers of color, and grown an...more

Showfloor News: Breaking Down Language Barriers

Encore Data Products is set to showcase its latest educational technology at the ISTE 2025 conference.The ISTE conference is known for bringing together educators and tech leaders to discuss the...more

Community School of the Arts in Fort Smith Approved For Learns Money

Community School of the Arts has been approved by the state as a service provider for families who receive the Education Freedom Account funds.Families who homeschool their children or have children...more

Northeast Wi Theater Collaborative Forms, Creates Youth Theater Education Program

Green Bay's Studio 12 and the Ashwaubenon Performing Arts Center have formed the Northeast Wisconsin Theater Collaborative.NEWT will put on a production of Hadestown: Teen Edition at the Ashwubenon...more

Three Santa Barbara Strings Young Violinists Travel to China

Three Santa Barbara Strings Young Violinists Travel To China - The Santa Barbara Independent.Three fifteen-year-old violinists from the Santa Barbara County Allison Feinberg, Jane Smylie and Claire...more


In the world of social enterprises, failure is a cringe-worthy moment nobody wants to talk about. But, social entrepreneurs can benefit from their failures.



Federal Government Grant and Assistance Programs


Adjustable Rate Mortgages | The Affordable Care Act: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Prevention and Public Health Fund Activi | Food for Education | Grants for Enhanced Assessment Instruments | Flood Plain Management Services | U.S. Refugee Admissions Program | Specially Selected Health Projects | Comprehensive Geriatric Education Program(CGEP) | | Site Style by YAML | Grants.gov | Grants | Grants News | Sitemap | Privacy Policy

Edited by: Michael Saunders

© 2008-2025 Copyright Michael Saunders