Consultation

EEDA has consulted with a wide range of audiences during the course of the project so far.

Pre competition
Influencers and stakeholders in the region and the rest of the UK were asked for their views on the need for a landmark and the region’s key assets in the early part of 2003. Their feedback broadly endorsed the potential for a landmark to put the East of England on the map and discussion around assets was used as the basis for what became the competition brief.

EEDA also met with the people behind successful landmarks like the London Eye, the Eden Project and the Angel of the North to learn from their experience of delivering major projects. Each story was different but helped EEDA to develop its plan.

A competition was widely believed to be a productive and inclusive way to stimulate ideas (the London Eye was entered into a millennium competition which no one won but the team held onto its vision) and early stage funding was believed to be one of the more significant challenges on the road to delivering a major landmark.

During the competition
During the landmark east ideas competition, a period of web-led consultation followed the announcement of the twelve short listed entries (March 2004). All feedback was collated for the judges ahead of the final presentations.

In the same period, a focus group was conducted with approximately 40 BBC viewers and listeners from all parts of the region. Two of the focus group members were voted on to the judging panel to represent the views of the public.

Post competition - touring exhibition
After the winners were announced, an exhibition showcasing all the entries toured the region, visiting Norwich, Cambridge and Chelmsford during September/October 2004 and Ipswich shortly after.

The exhibition was open to the public. It aimed to raise awareness of the huge range of ideas generated by the landmark east ideas competition and encourage people to provide feedback on the entries.