Crossgate Holds Leeds’ Window of Opportunity
Empty storefronts can be a depressing reminder of an economic lull, but they can also present an opportunity—for growth, for change, for the future. The same troubles that have left so many high streets struggling have also given us the chance to reimagine what the high street could be. That what “A Window of Opportunity” is exploring.
Organized by the Leeds City Council and several other organizations, the initiative reached out to Leeds College of Art and Leeds Met students, asking them each to design a piece of window art that would engage their community, improve the look of their city and inspire and encourage potential new occupants. It seeks to invigorate the empty spaces in Outer East and South Leed. It’s been put together in association with the Mary Portas Pilot Scheme.
A little later this month, Crossgates shopping centre will hold a pop-up exhibition of the submissions to the competition. A vacant shop in the center will host the show, which lasts five days. To win, the entries must engender the concepts of metamorphosis, challenge, optimism, hope, community, idealism and fantasy—the council’s view of the ideal retail space of the future.
