January 24, 2025

Blog 6 of my Cultural Placemaking Series, 7 February 2025

Digital placemaking is revolutionising how we connect local identities to global audiences, ad how it supports traditional placemaking strategies. Fundamentally, placemaking is about strengthening the connection between people and the places they share. Digital tools are extending this concept, allowing local cultures to resonate far beyond their physical boundaries.

English National Ballet (ENB) online learning platform, ENB at Home, shows how digital initiatives can reinforce a sense of place while reaching a global audience. By offering virtual access to performances and training rooted in their east London base, ENB maintains its local identity while engaging participants worldwide. This digital presence doesn’t dilute the organisation’s connection to its physical home; rather, it amplifies London’s cultural significance on a global stage.

Leeds 2023 Year of Culture programme provides another compelling example. Their digital content, including the “Future Perfect” short film series, showcased Leeds’ unique cultural landscape to a broad audience. These initiatives didn’t just promote Leeds; they actively involved local communities in creating and sharing their stories, strengthening the sense of place among residents while inviting global audiences to connect with the city’s distinctive character.

During my tenure as CEO of Rosetta Arts (2007-2023), our approach to digital placemaking focused on empowering local artists to share their work beyond East London. By building digital literacy, we enabled artists to project their locally-inspired creations to a wider audience, effectively extending the cultural footprint of our community.

Digital placemaking doesn’t replace physical experiences; it complements and enhances them. It allows cultural organisations to root their digital presence firmly in their local context while extending their reach. This approach preserves the authenticity of place-based culture while cultivating broader appreciation and understanding.

The challenge and opportunity lie in leveraging digital tools to strengthen local cultural identities rather than homogenising them. When done effectively, digital placemaking can create a dynamic interplay between the local and the global, enriching both. It allows places to maintain their unique character while participating in a wider cultural dialogue, ultimately reinforcing the importance of diverse, locally-rooted cultural expressions in our interconnected world.