From taking charge as Mayor of Leith to airing local frustrations at the Complaint Department, the Leith Imaginarium invited people to help shape what Leith could become in 2028 and beyond
Supporter of the bid for Leith to become inaugural UK Town of Culture 2028, Chitra Ramaswamy, hosts Leith local to discuss their stories and memories during Sunday’s Imaginarium. Image credit: James Duncan
Leithers shared their stories, hopes, ideas for the future and frustrations on Sunday (25 October), as the Leith Imaginarium brought the town’s UK Town of Culture 2028 consultation to the Wee Museum of Memory at Ocean Terminal.
The free drop-in event formed part of the work to make sure Leith’s bid is shaped by the people who know the town best. Leith is one of 15 places shortlisted from nearly 400 applications to become the UK’s first Town of Culture, in the same year it will mark 900 years since its first written record.
A mother and son, visitors to the Leith Town of Culture 2028 Imaginarium event on Sunday 25 October, putting their thoughts on the interactive map. Image credit: James Duncan
Rather than a traditional consultation, the Imaginarium used a series of playful activities to explore what people love about Leith, what needs to change and what they want the town to become.
Visitors were invited to sit in a giant Mayor of Leith chair, don a ceremonial chain and answer the question: “If you were Mayor for one day, what would you do?”
Elsewhere, a colourful Leith Washing Line grew throughout the event as people pegged up comment cards sharing “a story I love”, “something Leith needs”, “a big idea”, “my hope for 2028” and nominations for “Leith heroes”.
A visitor to the Leith Town of Culture 2028 Imaginarium event on Sunday 25 October, puts her thoughts on the Leith Washing Line. Image credit: James Duncan
At the Complaint Department, people were encouraged to get their gripes off their chest by recording frustrations, obstacles and things they would like to see change, before being asked to imagine what a better alternative could look like.
A giant illustrated map became a collective portrait of the town, with visitors marking places they love, hidden gems, places with potential, and areas they feel need attention.
The Complaints Department hosted by Jed Milroy of Tinderbox Collective as part of Sunday’s Imaginarium event. Image credit: James Duncan
There were also Sofa Stories, capturing people’s memories and hopes for Leith; a poster-making activity exploring what makes people proud of the town; and a roaming exercise collecting words and lines towards a collaborative song or poem. Visitors were given a Leith Passport on arrival, collecting stamps as they shared stories, hopes, ideas, what they felt was missing and their local heroes.
A group of visitors interact with the giant map of Leith at the Imaginarium event as part of the Leith Town of Culture 2028 bid. Image credit: James Duncan
What Leith had to say
While the team will now work through the material gathered during the day, some strong themes are already emerging. Early feedback from conversations at the Imaginarium highlighted Leith’s heritage, the impact of change, and the importance people place on Leith maintaining its own identity distinct from Edinburgh.
The wider consultation has deliberately been structured around four questions: what makes Leith, Leith; what is missing or needs more care; what should happen in 2028; and what people want Leith to be like afterwards.
The ideas and stories gathered at the Imaginarium will now feed into the development of Leith’s final UK Town of Culture bid and its plans for 2028. The bid is being developed by the Leith Culture Partnership with the backing of more than 80 local and national organisations and public figures.
A visitor to the Leith Town of Culture 2028 Imaginarium event on Sunday 25 October, puts her thoughts on the Leith Washing Line. Image credit: James Duncan
Susie Gray and Jenny Mungall, co-ordinators of Leith’s UK Town of Culture bid, said: “The Imaginarium was about giving people of all ages lots of different ways to tell us what matters to them about Leith. We wanted to hear the good things, the big ideas, the things people want to protect and the things they want to change.
“There was so much warmth and pride in the room, but also really thoughtful conversations about Leith’s heritage, how the town is changing and what its future should look like. We’ve now got a huge amount to take away and work through, and that will directly help us shape the plans for 2028 and Leith’s 900th anniversary.
“Our developing plans are very much centred on celebrating Leith’s rich cultures and heritage and the brilliant work that already happens here, and making sure that Leithers have a real say in what comes next.”
The Imaginarium follows other public conversations around Leith as the bid develops. The final bid is due to be submitted to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 30 November, with the winner expected to be announced by 31 March 2027.
