I’ve lost count of the times young people in Canterbury have told me there are not enough places in the city designed with them in mind. So I spent an afternoon with a group of art students from Canterbury College to talk about exactly that: the spaces they use, the public art they walk past every day, and what more they would like to see from a city they clearly love.
The session was deliberately relaxed. No plans on the table, no formal questions. Just an open conversation about Canterbury: what feels like it’s ‘theirs’, what they wish existed, and how a new part of the city could add to what’s missing.
The strongest sentiment was how much these students love Canterbury. There was real warmth in the room, and a lot of nostalgia too, reflecting on childhood memories and a sense of place and rootedness. The conversation was honest and thoughtful.
The conversation quickly moved toward ideas. Students talked about wanting more free, informal spaces where they could spend time with friends: somewhere to sit, read, work, or just hang out. The idea of a hybrid space came up more than once, something between a study room, coffee shop and bookshop, where you could stay as long as you liked without feeling you needed to buy something.
We also explored the subject of public art. This room full of art students agreed that Canterbury has some genuinely interesting pieces, and these become much more engaging once people understand their backstories.
When I explained that the Canterbury Bull in Westgate Parks is built from old railway track found on the site of a former tannery, one student said it was cool how the ideas all interlinked. Another said an explanatory plaque would make it easier to share the experience with others.
Canterbury is not short on statues, sculptures and stories, and as we extend the city southwards, discussing how to connect to, celebrate and add to that legacy feels relevant and important.
More than anything, it was a pleasure to spend time with a group of young people who think carefully about their city and have a real stake in its future. The discussion was wide-ranging, creative and full of ideas, and from my perspective, inspiring.
I will keep speaking with schools, colleges and youth groups across Canterbury as our work develops. If you are involved in a group that would like to be part of the conversation, please get in touch (as you should if you just want a chat about what we’re doing)! Let’s keep talking!
Alice