The Stables at Hylands
Driving Creative Enterprise in Chelmsford
CLIENT
Hylands Estate
Like so many others, The Stables at Hylands Estate, a 300-year-old Grade II* listed site, faced daunting challenges during the Covid-19 pandemic. Visitor numbers plummeted, tenants left, and morale was low. Cue Things Made Public…
Our practical plan addressed tenant curation, events, interior design, cultural partnerships, marketing and café management.
Partnering with the Hylands Estate management team, we devised an easy-to-use strategy rooted in local research and engagement with over 30 stakeholders. Our mission? To reignite the Stables’ spirit, foster creative enterprise and celebrate Chelmsford’s rich cultural heritage.
Our practical plan addressed tenant curation, events, interior design, cultural partnerships, marketing and café management.
Following its implementation, tenant occupancy in the artist studios skyrocketed from 40% to over 90%. A new independent café operator helped to transform the public offer and a vibrant schedule of cultural events was successfully launched. Collaborations with local partners like Hot Box Live, Eclectic Gallery, Ignite Chelmsford and the Chelmsford Cultural Development Trust ensured that the community were truly part of the journey.
Today, the Hylands team has cultivated a thriving cultural environment, loved by many. The Stables once again sit at the heart of creativity in Chelmsford, showcasing the power of innovative, community-focused management.
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‘We worked with Things by Made Public on a consultation piece to transform our Stables into a hub for art, design and culture. They created a thorough Operational and Strategy Plan which has been integral to what we have now achieved. Working with Sarah, Lauren and Chris was a joy and lots of fun!’
– Edd Price, Hylands Estate Assistant Manager
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Who we worked with
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