25 June 2014, 7:30pm, Salvation Army Worship Hall, Westow St, Upper Norwood, SE19

Continuing the theme of Who owns culture, the premise of this third session is to discuss and develop the strands that link from historical precedent to current trends.

In this session we will be using the comparison of historical trends that shaped the original Crystal Palace / Crystal Palace Park with the new emergent trends in urban space.

• Should Crystal Palace Park be a destination (again; or, is it already?) – the notion of the urban-cultural-tourist is more than a savant-flaneur and seems to be driving economy more and more in London.
• The post Olympic Legacy created an illusion of large-scale festivity which seems unsustainable – and the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre has been demoted making it a major loser from the Olympic Legacy.
• Does Crystal Palace need regeneration? Or is the geo-political boundary making it unsustainable to subsidise a peripheral amenity which better serves neighbouring populations. And is it right that in austerity times that finances prescribe civic pride and opportunity?
• Is private development the only way to germinate community? Are there policy mechanisms or other means to avoid removing a public amenity from the public purse?

Panellists: 

Dr John Bold, reader in architecture, former head of architecture for the Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England

Leo Hollis, historian and urbanist, cities are good for you

Peter Wynne Rees, professor of Places and City Planning, The Bartlett, UCL

Dr Jan Piggot, author and historian, Palace of the People

Chair:

Wendy Shillam, Director, Urbaneye