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On World Art Day, we are reminded that art is far more than something to observe, it is something to experience, to participate in, and to use as a powerful tool for connection, wellbeing and transformation. As CEO of Remixd CIC I am bringing my rich experience in community art and business, to an innovative approach to place governance that puts creativity, community and lived experience at its heart an Experience Improvement District (XID). The Ramsgate XID pilot is buildin

Happy Mondays is a weekly social lounge on Ramsgate High Street where people come together for connection, creativity and care. Through simple art activities, music, conversation and free wellbeing treatments, the space offers support, joy and belonging. For some, it’s the only time they leave home each week; for others, a place to come when life feels overwhelming. A small, welcoming space where community, kindness and creativity help people feel OK again.

RamsgreatXID is exploring how the Experience Improvement District framework can reconnect people with place in Ramsgate. With a feature in the Ramsgate Recorder, a new company - Remixd, and a growing network of collaborators, the work is gaining momentum. Next steps include meeting artists and alternative practitioners, developing a white paper, and planning mindful mapping, urban acupuncture and a WRLDCTY-inspired summit in 2025.

Pete hasn’t worked for 35 years after losing his leg in a building accident, but he shows up every week to our Happy Mondays group in Ramsgate. When we launched our first XID mini place activation, Pete arrived early with tools on his mobility scooter, ready to help paint and clear a neglected space. His pride says everything. It raises a bigger question: could community-led initiatives like XID create meaningful roles for people who want to contribute but are often overlooke

Sometimes change starts with simply taking action. In our first Ramsgate XID mini place activation, we transformed a neglected pathway space in just three hours, painting a mural, clearing 20 bags of rubbish and weeds, and bringing together local volunteers, businesses and our Happy Mondays group. More than 200 people passing by experienced a moment of joy, showing how small, community-led interventions can quickly revive overlooked spaces.

A simple act of kindness can bring LIFE to a neglected space. On a busy Ramsgate corner, a small intervention sparked joy, conversation and reflection among hundreds of passers-by. Created with plastic plaits made by our Happy Mondays group, the piece has prompted laughter, tears and new connections. For some it offered comfort in grief, for others a sense of belonging, showing how small acts of creativity can breathe life back into a place and its community.

Sometimes progress means not waiting for perfect conditions. During our third RamgreatXID mini place activation on Ramsgate High Street, we painted ageing hoardings that have surrounded a derelict site for over a decade. Fixing the fence properly could take a year of ownership searches, negotiations and funding. Instead, in one day we created colour, sparked conversations, brought joy to hundreds of passers-by and gave someone a renewed sense of purpose.

One year into the Ramsgate XID (Experience Improvement District) pilot, a small place activation transformed a neglected space outside a church hall. Members of the Happy Mondays group worked together over four weeks to clear rubbish, cut back weeds and create mosaics. The project improved the public realm while building confidence, sparking conversations with passers-by and showing how small, human-centred actions can strengthen community pride and connection.