From June 19-21, 2024, programme participants gathered in Trenčín, Slovakia, for the sixth milestone of the programme: From Project to Strategy. This working session focused on shifting from project-based placemaking efforts to a more strategic, city-wide approach. Over three days of intensive workshops, participants worked on defining key priorities for a Global Placemaking Agenda, identifying necessary organisational changes, and mapping the stakeholders essential for long-term implementation.
The discussions approached placemaking from both local and global perspectives, ensuring that strategies were holistic and adaptable while taking into account specific local constraints and opportunities. Through interactive sessions and collaborative exercises, participants developed a framework for embedding placemaking within city structures, transitioning from short-term interventions to systemic change.
Key Outcomes
City Priorities – Commitments for the Global Agenda
Cities identified their most pressing urban challenges and defined specific commitments for the Cities Placemaking Agenda. Participants outlined immediate and long-term actions, ensuring a shared vision for future placemaking efforts.
Placemaking Embeddedness Scale – Assessing Progress
Building on discussions from Milestone 3, cities assessed their progress on the Placemaking Embeddedness Scale, defining the next steps to move towards systemic integration.
From Local Actions to a Global Agenda
Through collaborative discussions, participants identified shared priorities that aligned individual city strategies with a broader, global placemaking movement.
Making Organisational Change Happen
Participants explored the internal transformations municipalities need to undertake to implement placemaking strategies effectively. Roadmaps were developed to adapt structures, processes, and partnerships to support long-term placemaking initiatives.
Experiencing Trenčín
Beyond the working sessions, participants had the opportunity to explore Trenčín, a city renowned for its rich history and cultural vibrancy. As a future European Capital of Culture 2026, Trenčín provided an inspiring backdrop for discussions on strategic placemaking. The city’s ongoing urban development efforts highlighted both the challenges and opportunities of embedding placemaking into long-term planning.
This milestone laid the groundwork for the final phase of the programme, set to take place during Placemaking Week Europe 2024 in Rotterdam. Stay tuned for further insights and outcomes from the next steps of the programme!
