How do artists and urban spaces interact?
In which way do creatives shape our cities and what impulses can they provide for urban development?

 

The meaning of public space is currently being renegotiated worldwide, and not just since the pandemic. Policy makers and urban society are increasingly focused on (re)designing urban spaces in an innovative and sustainable way.

Urban development projects aiming to foster the synergies between economic, cultural and social purposes are gaining new attention and importance. And in this process, designers, artists, and creative agencies are at the center – opening up places of encounter and reflection.

 

The conference discussed the visions and means policy makers and creatives apply to shape our cities as attractive locations and social spaces:

  • What strategies do urban development specialists pursue between economic development and the common good?
  • Under what conditions do inspiring places emerge and foster innovation as well as new forms of collaboration?
  • What role does the city play for creatives, as a living and working space and as the content of artistic work?
  • To what extent is the shaping of urban spaces with and through art, cultural and creative industries a locational advantage that contributes to the sustainable development of the city?

 

Watch the conference recording now:

Conference Overview

14.00 pm

Conference Opening with welcoming words by

 

Elisa Valentin

Delegate General of Québec in Germany

Munich-Berlin, DE / Québec, CA

quebec.ca/munich

Rolf Krämer

Head of Start-ups, Cultural and Creative Industries at the Hessian Ministry of Economics

Wiesbaden, DE

wirtschaft.hessen.de

14.20 pm

Visionary Cities • Governmental Strategies for Comprehensive Urban Development

What strategies do urban development specialists pursue between economic development and a focus on the common good? To what extent does the shaping of urban spaces with and through art, cultural and creative industries represent a locational advantage that contributes to the sustainable development of the city. How are cities shaped to allow for creative practices to thrive and what do policy makers expect from artists and creatives in return?

Recording

We were discussing with:

 

 

Catherine Lareau

Economic Development Commissioner of the City of Montréal

Montréal, CA

montreal.ca

Carolina Romahn

Head of Department Culture / Hessian Ministry of Higher Education, Research and the Arts

Wiesbaden, DE

wissenschaft.hessen.de

Matthias Pees

Artistic and Managing Director of Künstlerhaus Mousonturm

Frankfurt, DE

mousonturm.de

Rolf Krämer

Head of Start-ups, Cultural and Creative Industries at the Hessian Ministry of Economics

Wiesbaden, DE

wirtschaft.hessen.de

15.00 pm

Beyond Urban Development • Curatorial Projects that Turn Cities to Canvases

Curators and creative regional managers often work at the intersection between creative practitioners and the city embodying both: creativity and strategic thinking. Which goals and visions do they pursue beyond urban development? How do they promote artistic practices in public space, in the city and beyond? How do they see their role as mediators between policy makers, private companies and civil society?

Recording

We got to know four different projects envisioned and promoted by:

 

 

Guillaume Aniorté

International and Strategic Development Executive Advisor – Quartier des Spectacles Partnership

Montréal, CA

quartierdesspectacles.com

Felix Hevelke

Anthropologist, Art Historian, Cultural Manager

Frankfurt, DE

radar-frankfurt.de

Aileen Treusch

Curator, Founder of faktory – art architecture & people, Producer, Researcher

Frankfurt, DE

faktory.at

16.15 pm

Networking Reception (on-site only) / Break

The reception was made possible by support by the Hessian Ministry of Economy, Energy, Transport and Housing.

 

 

17.00 pm

Creating Cities • Artistic and Creative Practices Shaping Urban Space

At the centre of our debate are the artists, creative minds in design, architecture, performance and any other creative field that reflects on the city and its social, economic and ecological structures. What does the city mean to them, as a living and working space and as the content of their practice? How does working in public space change mechanism of authorship, ownership and control over their creative output? Which responsibilities do they have and what can they provide? And what do they get in return?

Recording

We spoke with:

 

 

Olivier Girouard

Visual Artist

Montréal, CA

ekumen.com

Thomas Payette

Creative Director & Co-Founder mirari

Montréal, CA

mirari.art

Moderated by

 

Dr. Felix Kosok

Board of German Designer Club (DDC), Designer, Researcher

Frankfurt, DE

Jeanne Charlotte Vogt

Artistic Director NODE, Curator

Frankfurt & Hamburg, DE


Creating Cities was a hybrid conference by NODE Forum for Digital Arts and the Government of Québec on the occasion of Canada’s Guest of Honour presentation at the Frankfurt Book Fair 2020/2021, funded by the Hessian Ministry of Economy, Energy, Transport and Housing: