In 2012, City Showcase held its first street market – a brand new event that cross promoted emerging musicians, up and coming designers and creatives and new food and product brands. Despite the vagaries of the weather, the markets were a great success. They were held in Dean Street, Embankment Gardens, Dalston Square and in the grounds of St John at Hackney. City Showcase was also asked to curate a market for the National Trust in Hackney – details of which can be found under WHAT WE DO.
In choosing locations for City Showcase: Markets, City Showcase understands the importance of markets, new design, new music and innovation to brands and to ‘place’. Soho was full of empty shops and was run down. Soho Flea Market, through careful curation of its new designer stallholders, gained media interest and re-connected the area with its historic roots of being a creative hub. Within three years Dean Street addresses were sought after and rates were increased. City Showcase was then asked to ‘place-make’ Embankment Gardens. The relationships with landowners is imperative for the new design, food and musical talent that City Showcase showcases.
Designers and producers that have achieved success and grown their businesses since taking part in City Showcase: Markets include NixandKix, Cranes, Capsicana, Lou Rota, Jessica Russell Flint, Loel, eightbear, Jimbob Art, Reiko Kaneko, ROAM and Victoria Eggs.