Creating Equitable and Inclusive Public Spaces - Through Community Collaboration

<p dir="ltr">This presentation, delivered at the Lit and Phil Library in Newcastle as part of the Northumbria University Ideas Festival (Volume 3), examines how public spaces contribute to collective belonging and community identity. It considers how environments such as streets, parks, and transport hubs, though formally owned and managed by councils or businesses, become socially ‘owned’ through everyday use and shared experience.</p><p dir="ltr">Drawing on local examples including Northumberland Street and collective events in Newcastle, the talk reflects on how multisensory and digital design interventions can enhance accessibility, inclusivity, and enjoyment of urban environments. The slides present ongoing research into how people experience public space, and how creative approaches to design can foster stronger connections between individuals and the places they inhabit.</p>