Fri 5th Apr 2019
by Rob Avery-Phipps
On Sunday 31st March Vice Governor Lu from Guizhou Province visited the Creative Quarter. This was part of wider visit he made to the Midlands Engine region. His objective was to explore how Guizhou, a province of 40million people with an economy growing at over 10% per year can create tangible trade and investment connections with the Midlands.
Work NewsGuizhou’s capital, Guiyang, has identified a brownfield site in their city centre which they hope to regenerate into a new zone that will nurture their rapidly developing tech and innovation businesses whilst providing contemporary spaces for their arts and crafts heritage businesses. Vice Governor Lu was delighted to learn more about the model the Creative Quarter has developed in Nottingham. He will take this case study back to colleagues in Guizhou to demonstrate that their ‘New zone’ concept can become a reality.
The delegation visited the Hangzhou Creative and Design centre and learnt about the work Nottingham is already doing to promote cultural collaborations with China. Next on the tour was Only Montana.
“This is graffiti art right? So you have a shop where people can buy paint to spray on walls? Quite amazing – this would never happen in China.”
The VG was amazed/perplexedThe final stop was Redsmith Distillery. Guizhou is home to China’s most famous (and potent) liquor, Moutai. The delegation got the chance to sample Redsmith’s award winning gins. The Vice Governor invited Redsmith to attend the annual “China (Guizhou) International Alcoholic Beverage Expo” where the company can promote their product to Chinese consumers.
Modern urban living in and amongst refurbished lace factories and warehouses. On-trend independent retailers and many bars, restaurants, cafés, galleries, arts cinema and theatres. A buzz in the daytime and a rhythm at night.
Nottingham Trent University, the UK’s University of the Year, has a Creative Quarter campus. Nottingham College is investing £58m in a new skills hub. Confetti is expanding fast. Metronome is open for business and learning.
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