May 15th, 2024
 

As I engaged with community members for my research, I couldn't help but notice the stark differences in opinions regarding cultural regeneration in Paisley. Reflecting on the start of my PhD journey, I recall having informal scoping conversations with various individuals who lived and worked in Paisley. One conversation, in particular, stands out in my memory: I was speaking with people who worked for the council, expressing my concerns about Paisley moving towards becoming a "Creative City." This concern was deeply personal to me, having grown up in Amsterdam—a city that has become a leading example of a Creative City.
 

However, I felt a deeper connection with community organisations in Paisley, who seemed more apprehensive about the cultural decision-making of the council. These groups seemed to share my apprehensions and were vigilant about the council's cultural decision-making. This tension between the council’s ambition and the community's wariness made it clear to me that there is an inherent bias on both sides in reflecting on Paisley’s cultural regeneration. The council tended to emphasize growth and investment, while community groups were more focused on safeguarding local identity and ensuring inclusivity. Looking back, I can now see how my past experiences in Amsterdam have significantly influenced my approach to understanding cultural regeneration in Paisley. My background has made me more critical and cautious, which has shaped my interactions with both the council and community groups.

This reflective journey has revealed how deeply my personal biases are embedded in my research, influencing how I perceive and engage with the cultural dynamics in Paisley. Conducting this research has been a reflective journey for me, revealing the layers of my own biases and how they shape my research and interactions with the community here.