Perception Area

GHP’s model of creative consultation, Perception AREA, captures the perceptions of the community about a particular site or issue over a specific, and usually extended, period of time. Perception AREA builds upon a successful record of local authorities using artists to engage and consult with communities, but develops and refines the methodology into a focused and innovative consultation tool that directly addresses the client’s specific aims and objectives. It does not replace existing models of consultation but works alongside them, helping to identify ‘commonality’ between disparate, and at times fragmented, strands of the community, through a non-confrontational approach.

Perception AREA: Reel time has successfully been employed in many districts in Hertfordshire in partnership with GHP. Theartistsdo not ask direct questions but use creative triggers and digital technology to explore the real attitudes of individuals, providing an insight into their hopes and fears, uncovering their understanding of local situations however informed or misinformed. These perceptions are communicated back to officers, decision / policy makers and often funding and development partners, through the format of multi-media presentations, helping them to make better-informed decisions.

Find out more about Perception AREA: Reel time projects in:

Broxbourne: Wormley Community Centre
East Herts: Sele Farm Community Centre
St Albans: Clarence Park
Watford: Bushey Arches

Perception AREA: Snapshot has been employed in Stevenage to capture the perceptions of key users and non-users of the Town Centre Gardens over a constrained time period, governed by funding application deadlines. When time frames are tight, the fine line between quality, informative consultation and box-ticking tokenism can become blurred. Perception AREA: Snapshot avoids this, delivering an overview of individuals’ perceptions which can indicate the way forward for next stage consultation strategies. Find out more about the Stevenage Town Centre Gardens project  
South Oxhey Library project

Perception AREA: Placemaking introduces identified consultees to the concept of ‘placemaking’ through arts led workshops within the master planning process. This model has been used in Stevenage, bringing community based ‘place making teams’ together to explore the real issues of spatial design and management of the Town Centre Gardens, building on the Snapshot consultation process, and further informing Stevenage Borough Council’s plans for the gardens. Find out more about the Stevenage Town Centre Gardens project

Dave Wells, Strategic Development Officer, Stevenage Borough Council said: “With the current emphasis on community involvement, and the statutory requirement to consult the public on pretty much anything, there is a real danger of some communities getting 'consultation burn-out', and so an approach like GHP’s that really engaged the community without them feeling they were part of just another consultation exercise seemed pivotal for getting a true reflection of how they valued their park”