9th international public markets conference - will fulford
TRANSCRIPT
WILL FULFORD
More than a Market: How Public Markets can be
Community Destinations that Serve Civic, Social and
Physical Needs
Co-Founder Urban Market Company
Public Markets – Connecting PeopleNew research into how public markets
build strong communities
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Research method…• Read ‘public space’ literature• Build a conceptual framework to study markets• 1500 intercept surveys – market visitors• In-depth interviews – market traders
– Using a 2-way radio mic
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Functional encounters occur between people who do not already know each other,
but who share a special ‘function’ of some kind in space.
What are functional encounters?
Functional encounters reduce fear of strangers approaching each other
Facilitating ‘first contact’ between people who otherwise might not meet
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1.
“Trade is a thing that forces you to know your fellow people, and that’s
why it’s sometimes beautiful, as otherwise people wouldn’t interact
with me in another way…”(Asim, market trader, WM)
Functional encounters build trust between different communitiesFirst-hand experience replaces third-hand
preconceptions
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2.
“You know, at the start we don't know one another, but with the time,
everyone is the same [but] whenever there is difference you get ignorance,
so when you have knowledge of something you understand things and
you [realise] we are the same…”(Javed, market trader, EM)
“…and of course all the Asian people loved it! Now all the English traders
call out in Punjabi, you know, which is a sales thing, it’s not done for the benefit of visiting sociologists, it
works with the customers” (Pauline, Market Customer, EM)
Benny calls out to a Portuguese lady passing the stall "where is amigo today?" and she replies
"working"...he then breaks into Spanish with a lady customer "that's trés por favour, graçious"
and introduces his son to the lady who he explains is with his Dad on the stall because the teachers are on strike…Benny then moves onto what sounds like Arabic and then follows up in
English "hello sister how are you?“ before moving onto French "how are you doing?
Comme ci comme ça!" as he motions his hand from side-to-side.
Functional encounters create economic opportunity
Finding economic value in diversity
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5.
“…when you’re serving so many different nationalities, you’ve got such an edge because, you know, what one won’t try the other one will, so in the end, you can’t lose…in the end, the more variety you’ve got, the more
pulling power you’ve got. (Neil, Market Trader, EM)
Functional encounters help us practice being social
Finding practical value in diversity
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6.
“yeah, you know, it kind of like makes you fit wherever you go, you don't find
it so difficult…” (Emmanuel, Market Trader, EM)
Functional encounters generate interest in diversity
We start to learn about each other’s cultures
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7.
“…a customer said give me one and I’ll cook it for ya. So I give her a couple
and she said I’ll bring it down, because I’ve never had it before. And now I say
to the wife, listen don’t forget my butternut squash on my roast dinner,
and she says, oh you’re driving me mad with that butternut squash! After all
these years I’d never bothered with it”(Neil, Market Trader, EM)
Functional encounters lead to other types of social interaction
We can celebrate our differences
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9.
“…I just heard about Diwali but I don't know who they celebrate, how they pray. But now I know very well. We
celebrate each other, we greeting each other, we give the cards each other, you know. This is the experience.
When we Muslim people celebrate Ede, the other religions give us
greetings and cards and we celebrate each other together.”(Iqbal, Market Trader, EM)
Functional encounters connect people through process not policy
We all have to shop…
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10.
“I’m glad and privileged to work with all the different races of
people. I’ve got on with every one of them, and I’m glad that I’ve
been enlightened and met them.” (Neil, Market Trader, EM)
Q5. Is the market a place where you mix positively with people from different
backgrounds?
East Market
West Market
Q5. Is the market a place where you mix positively with people from different
backgrounds?
“…I’ve learnt such a lot from this market, I truly mean it. I’ve learnt not to be prejudiced, which is the greatest
thing I’ve learnt…” (Neil, Market Trader, EM)