Shape and Shift Brings Community-Led Placemaking to Salisbury

A new participatory sculpture project aimed at reimagining public space and community identity has launched in Salisbury, transforming the city centre into a collaborative creative workshop.

Facilitated by See Space Differently and supported by Salisbury City Council, the installation invited residents and visitors to interact with a series of mobile sculptural “pods” designed to be moved, rearranged and activated by participants.

The project invited the public to help reimagine the city through a series of mobile sculptural pods, turning the square into a temporary civic workshop shaped by drawing, conversation and play. Through these interactions, members of the public co-created evolving spatial layouts while sharing ideas about Salisbury’s future, culture and civic identity.

More than 100 participants and their families engaged with the installation as it shifted throughout the day, temporarily changing how Guildhall Square and Market Square were used and experienced.

Rather than presenting sculpture as a static object, Shape & Shift explored the idea of sculpture as a flexible, site-responsive system one shaped collectively by the people using it. The project encouraged participants to imagine how public spaces might look and function if communities had a greater role in shaping them.

Tim Scrace said:

“Shape & Shift is about handing the tools of placemaking back to people so they can see space differently and shape it for themselves. The response in Salisbury showed how quickly public space can become a place of shared imagination.”

The project also marks the beginning of a wider programme of community-led creative placemaking initiatives in Salisbury.

A formal launch event for See Space Differently as a creative placemaking CIC is planned for 17 July, with further workshops, reactivations and partnerships expected across the city later this year.

The next public event, Shaping Our Future, will take place on 27 May from 6pm to 8pm at Salisbury Arts Centre on Bedwin Street. The workshop is aimed at young people and will explore ideas around creativity, public space and the future of Salisbury.

Tickets are available via Eventbrite.