Last week Custard Factory marketing director Dave Peebles was in Ottawa for the Creative Construct Symposium “bringing together participants from around the world to exchange the latest ideas and practices on the development of cultural and creative spaces; cultural planning and investment strategies for cultural infrastructure and cultural districts; and collaborative approaches to enhancing the cultural vitality, creative potential, and competitiveness of cities and communities.” This article in the Ottawa Citizen examines what Ottawa could learn from the event with some nice quotes from Dave and a potted history of the Custard Factory itself.

In Birmingham in 1989, with the decline of manufacturing and widespread unemployment “they were wondering, ‘What’s the future of our city?’” recalls Mr. Peebles.

Entrepreneur-developer Bennie Gray proposed creative industries. He knew artists, musicians and theatres were looking for space. He bought the five-acre custard factory site cheaply for about $1 million, and renovated the buildings.

“It was perseverance, seeing an opportunity and reacting to market demand,” says Mr. Peebles.

The first building was for young artists and offered cheap rent. The second was aimed at young entrepreneurs and provided free broadband.

“The idea of private industry leading regeneration is very awkward for most municipalities,” says Mr. Peebles. “But I don’t think the city of Birmingham could have delivered it. Municipalities can sometimes get too wrapped up in the feasibility of the feasibility.”

However, without 25-per-cent public investment over the years, the facility would not have been possible, he says.

Today, it features studio-workshops, cafés, theatres, dance studios, galleries and a nightclub. Tenants include TV and digital media companies and graphic designers.

“The city sees us as a vehicle for attracting creative business to Birmingham,” says Mr. Peebles. “They get the business taxes and improve the image of the city. Tenants say they get hope and a sense of community. It’s money well spent.”

Read the rest here.