About — Company, Place

Company, Place was founded in 2018 by Vickie Hayward. Specialising in sustainable arts and culture initiatives for the built environment, we focus on large-scale, experimental and interdisciplinary projects that bring people and place together.

To our clients we offer an end-to-end cultural-programming service that is unique to their location, encompassing research, strategy, branding, curation, brief writing, budgeting, project management, contract negotiation, events, partnerships, content, and communications.

To our practitioners we offer highly supported opportunities to create new work, develop their practice and deepen their understanding of the material world.

Materials First

We begin at the end, considering the decommissioning process and how our work will return to the earth. We maintain an ongoing programme of research into reusable, bio and low-carbon materials suitable for shared public spaces. We encourage site specific works, both in concept and composition.

Although we recognise that no system is perfect, arts and culture projects provide a huge opportunity to trial new innovations and revive ancient practices. Our aim is to use these spaces to support our partners’ transition to greener practices by putting materials at the forefront of every project.

Aberfeldy Stories: Colours of Home by Lola Lely

Work in progress - Space Frames by Studio Mieke Meijer

Transparent Production

We love working at scale while championing local production methods. Through this process, we provide supported opportunities that allow our partners to expand their practices, invest in neighbourhood businesses and utilise community knowledge.

Our people-centred approach to production, coupled with thoughtful material selection, helps us develop a roster of engaging events and generate rich project content.

In Good Company

We work collaboratively and across industries, supporting internal client teams on delivery and facilitating opportunities to co-commission and design with local stakeholders.

We have built an extensive network of like-minded consultants, which allows us to expand our team and capabilities as required to deliver placemaking projects at every scale.

Touching Bass play at Lower Stable Street Launch party by NTS Radio

The illuminated Garden in King's Cross by Modern Design Review and Studio Mieke Meijer.

For Special Places

We tap into local knowledge and history to inform our cultural strategies, creating an offering that is unique to its location. Our public realm interventions are always site-specific and often take the form of amenities, creating focal points for people to come together for rest and enjoyment, time and time again.

Building from the ground up, we set up infrastructure for ongoing cultural programmes that uplift their audiences, provide a sense of ownership, and create enriching homes for modern communities.

In the world of cultural programming, Vickie Hayward is second to none. Period.

— Pablo Flack, Founder of Bistrotheque and Hoi Polloi

Vickie Hayward has the rare ability to think creatively whilst being able to produce to time and to budget. She is amazing at building relationships with a wide range of people to get things done – to the highest creative quality. All the commissions she has delivered for us have been inspiring with real integrity. I am always excited to talk to Vickie about ongoing project or new opportunities – she will always have an interesting angle or collaboration in mind.

— Anna Strongman, CEO of Oxford University Development

Vickie is one of those rare people who makes everything seem possible.

— Anna Gerber + Britt Iversen, Founders of Visual Editions

I have worked with Vickie on several commissions over the past few years. Each has been immensely rewarding and successful. That is because Vickie is extraordinary herself; she is creative, insightful, intelligent, determined. Vickie gets stuff done and does it well. MDR has enjoyed every minute of working with her and would recommend company-place in a heartbeat, anytime, to anyone.

— Laura Houseley, Editor-in-Chief at Modern Design Review

We felt so lucky to have had the chance to learn and grow the business with Vickie. Just knowing her has made me strive to be better and to see things from different perspectives. A force of positive vibes and fun, but also has such a strong attention to the business.