Latest news with #AdamStephenson
BBC News
4 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Hull tabletop gamers level up struggling high street
With Warhammer creator Games Workshop riding high on the success of videogame Space Marine II and recently joining the FTSE 100, Josh Gorroño Chapman visits the tabletop gaming club thriving on a struggling high street in between Boyes and a vape shop, you could easily miss the small shopfront with "Hull's Angels" above the the staircase leading up from it, the hum of voices turns into a cacophony and I find myself in a large room packed with people."You've got the Hell's Angels motorbikers in America. We're not quite that," laughs Adam Stephenson, chair of the tabletop gaming club on of players are locked in battle across 18 tables, each populated with terrain from the shelves that line the explains the space had been empty for nine years and was not always the well-equipped gaming hub it has become."It used to be a William Hill betting site, so it took a lot of effort and time from our volunteers trying to make this our new home."They showed up, scrubbed the floors, scrubbed the walls and got painting," explains the 32-year-old. "It was a a great experience and we turned it around within a month." Mr Stephenson says the idea for a club first came about when they realised nowhere else in the city had the capacity for Warhammer games on this play the Games Workshop wargame, with the worldwide tabletop sector worth about £8.6bn in 2023, according to consumer data firm in 1983, players simulate battles between armies using painted plastic miniatures. "You may have a 100 model army," explains Adam, "all the way down to a five model. It's available for all sizes and budgets."Hull's Angels have set up their own leagues, matching players who want to get involved."It's great for growing that community and getting people together." Connor O'Neill says he first got into the hobby during Covid-19, "to keep [his] sanity", but has since found it is a great alternative to boozy nights out."As I got older I stopped going out partying and drinking and it was just a way for me to socialise," explains the 30-year-old. "A lot of the friends and people I associate with now are from this place."Asked what has driven the recent surge in interest he cites ex-superman actor Henry Cavill being a "poster boy" for the hobby as well as the videogames and media surrounding the Taylor, 32, thinks games like Warhammer offer a "very different sort of experience" to online games. "It's very social," he Atkin agrees. "I get bored after about 20 minutes," he says. "The computer's doing it all, whereas here I'm physically moving the pieces."The 70-year-old started playing in the early 1980s and says, while the scene in the city has "massively increased", having a place like Hull's Angels has really helped. "I had my garage kitted out, but it's much easier to come to a central hub." Amy Snuggs is sitting with her partner Tim Davis learning a new tabletop game. "It's changed my life," says the 32-year-old."Before I met him, I had no idea about miniature painting or war gaming."Finding she loved the painting side, she has now turned it into a job, becoming a professional miniature painter for tabletop gaming company 2020, Hull City Council received a £1.75m grant from Historic England to regenerate and "breathe new life" into Whitefriargate. The council said the street had been impacted by the Covid-19 Stephenson says centres like Hull's Angels could help revitalise Britain's high streets. "We see it in the news all the time. Our high streets are struggling and shops are struggling to stay open.""Places like this really seem to thrive and succeed, and it's maybe time for the high street to change."Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
Forbes
30-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Real Estate Developers Lift Local Artists, Revive Communities
Visitors spend time at "The Vessel" a public art structure in Midtown Manhattan on March 18, 2019. The structure is part of the first phase of the Hudson Yards real-estate development project. (Photo by Atilgan Ozdil/) Real estate developments can sometimes feel cut off from the communities they serve. Where's the integration into the local scene? A new movement addresses that disconnect by investing in the lives and output of local artists. Through programs like an artist-in-residence program at The Upton in Atlanta, developers are weaving creativity into the fabric of their properties. The thinking goes like this: Art builds connection. Connection builds community. And community transforms living spaces. The Upton, a new luxury multifamily development by META Real Estate Partners in Atlanta's Chosewood Park neighborhood, searched for ways to enhance residents' lives. The project's principals wanted to connect the property to something other than the cachet of high-end amenities. The solution was an artist-in-residence program that offered complimentary rent and a stipend over an 18-month residency. Chosen through a nationwide call for proposals, five creatives are now on board, including multidisciplinary artist Adam Stephenson and Atlanta-based painter Sage Guillory. What will the artists do in the luxury development? Create art and events, which planners trust will cultivate a spirit of creativity while creating a vibrant community. The Hudson Yards development, including 'The Vessel,' stands on the West Side of Midtown Manhattan. Phase one of the Hudson Yards real-estate development project. (Photo by) 'Building communities starts with people, and how people connect with the building itself is crucial to its success,' says Rob Kincheloe, Partner at META Real Estate Partners. 'By programming art throughout the property and having those same artists live within the community, we hope to attract residents who see our property as differentiated.' Organizers believe the artists will inspire introspection, and ultimately, a deeper sense of belonging among residents, says Melania Armenta, Director of Resident Strategy at Atlanta-based Gallery Residential, which curates the program. The Upton has company in its endeavor. Other developers are turning to artist-driven initiatives to create spaces that are both visually engaging and emotionally resonant. While the initiatives may not be a solid trend, they represent fresh thinking in what can be a staid field. Gallery Residential has spearheaded similar programs: The Linden in Chattanooga, Tennessee; Stella at Five Points in Huntsville, Alabama; and The Tristan in Pensacola, Florida. Artist Daniela De Castro created this installation for the pool cabana at the Tristan residences in Pensacola, Florida. 'We see art as more than a visual element—it's a bridge to community, identity and lasting value,' says Tracy Bowers, co-founder of Gallery Residential. 'We're intentional about curating artist-driven programs that resonate with residents.' Adds Gallery Residential co-founder Bruce Sanders: 'By partnering with forward-thinking developers, we're exploring the powerful synergy between art and real estate. These initiatives allow residents to connect with the artists behind the work—fostering deeper emotional ties and transforming everyday spaces.' Several other developments have launched similar initiatives: Artists, tourists, residents and visitors mingle during Bushwick's Open Studios in Brooklyn, an annual event when many of the artists living and working in the neighborhood open their art studios to the public. (Photo by Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty Images) At The Upton, the focus on art extends to nature. In partnership with Atlanta-based Natural Born Tillers, the development will house a 2,700-square-foot organic garden, including a rooftop edible garden, a blueberry orchard and culinary herb plantings. Residents will have access to the harvest through 'Fresh Harvest Fridays' and garden-to-table dining experiences created by resident chef Justin Dixon, one of Upton's artists-in-residence. The blending of art, sustainability and community-building might represent a new model for residential real estate—one where properties exist in a kind of ecosystem. Proponents believe that can translate to a richer, more connected way of living.
Trade Arabia
24-04-2025
- Business
- Trade Arabia
AkzoNobel will locally produce Chartek ONE in KSA
AkzoNobel has announced local manufacturing of Chartek ONE, the next evolution in epoxy passive fire protection (PFP), in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. This strategic move caters to growing demand within the region and positions the Dammam site as a vital supply point alongside AkzoNobel's existing manufacturing network for Chartek ONE. AkzoNobel's protective coatings brand, International, recently hosted an exclusive launch event in Dammam, inviting key customers to witness the unveiling of Chartek ONE. The event provided an in-depth overview of the single-coat, boron-free, and mesh-free solution designed to simplify PFP application for energy sector assets by enhancing efficiency and streamlining the installation process. The establishment of the Dammam factory as a supplier of Chartek ONE for the EMEA region marks a significant milestone, positioning Saudi Arabia as a key manufacturing and export hub for AkzoNobel's advanced PFP coatings. Adam Stephenson, General Manager Middle East said, "We are delighted to be manufacturing Chartek ONE in Dammam, creating local value and jobs in Saudi Arabia. Simultaneously, this facility will play a key role in supplying EMEA, highlighting the Kingdom's crucial position in our global strategy, allowing us to efficiently serve both the local and export markets with an industry-leading PFP range.'
