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From Jude Sherry, University of Bath
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Bristol is a city that prides itself on its independence, which can be seen in its own local currency, a celebration of independent retailers, and local food producers.
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But what about the clothes we wear, the furniture in our homes or the bikes we ride? What capacity does Bristol have to produce the products the city needs? And why manufacture products in Bristol at all? Especially if manufacturing is considered to be a dirty and dying industry!
Let’s make two assumptions. Firstly, that manufacturing is essential for a resilient, innovative and a more inclusive city economy. Secondly, that if cities want to become sustainable and resilient they need to start undertaking circular economy activities, and these activities require a manufacturing skill base of people who can repair, remanufacture and recycle the products in use around us.
So what does Bristol make? Over the last 6 months I have set out to answer this question. I have delved into open data, statistics, and company registrations as well as talking to many organisations in the city. There is some information about the aerospace industry, but no one is able to provide a full picture of manufacturing in the city. I’ve come to realise that to answer this question requires physically “walking the city”.
Throughout April and May, I and a team of researchers and artists will walk the BS3 area in South Bristol. BS3 includes Bedminster, Southville, Bower Ashton, part of Totterdown and Windmill Hill. Walking, meeting, mapping and recording information about local makers and manufacturers will provide a unique picture of urban manufacturing that moves beyond aggregated statistics and incomplete company directories. During these walks we will explore what making in the city looks and feels likes by using a variety of enquiry techniques and monitoring equipment; this will include measuring air quality, noise levels, and other environmental indicators, as well as mapping the visual identity of urban manufacturing.
This will be called the Maker Walk. It will form part of the work of the RDM|RSC network. Along with the Universities of Bristol and Bath, I will be collaborating with the M Shed, Knowle West Media Centre, and other artists to capture the essence of making in BS3. The walk will enable us to produce a series of open data maps and many other outputs that will be openly shared to enable others to undertake the same process in other cities or areas.
If you would like to find out more about the Maker Walk or get involved in any way please email me J.M.Sherry@bath.ac.uk – I’d love to hear from you.
If you know of any makers/manufactures in BS3 please add them to our list here – thanks in advance.
You can also follow the Maker Walk as it unfolds on our twitter handles, as well as other feeds, under the hashtag #makerwalk