While the familiar high street names pull down the shutters, artists, independent retailers, local makers, sustainability campaigners and community action groups are taking over abandoned retail spaces, with sustainability and inclusivity top of the agenda. The number of pop-ups has increased by 18% in the past year, although some represent big brands.
“I think at the core of it is a belief that the town centre is not dying,” artist Daniel Thompson told the Observer. Thompson founded the Empty Shops Network, which for nearly two decades has supported artists to take over empty shops for exhibitions and creative projects. Part of the aim, Thompson said, was to make art more accessible to new and diverse audiences.
