Placemaking can play a role in creating awareness for and addressing systemic inequalities within urban communities and spaces, and creating opportunities for all sectors of urban life and culture. How can we leverage a placemaking approach to help citizens to achieve their fullest potential while celebrating their humanity – no matter where they are from, who they are, what their beliefs and interests are, and what they have lived through. This includes topics like gender, age, wealth, culture, creative expression and public health.
How can placemaking help to achieve a much needed balance between human culture and the natural environment? A transformation that catalyzes climate adaptation & resilience; green mobility; renewable energy transition (i.e. lowering the dependency on fossil fuels) and an increase in biodiversity is crucial to be able prevent or recover from climate-related disasters.
A fundamental aspect of placemaking is the importance of a bottom-up approach. Placemaking for Civic Engagement involves communities working together in both political and non-political actions to protect public values or make a change in a community. The goal of civic engagement is to address public concerns, resolve conflicts between groups, and promote the quality of the community, stemming from the real concerns and desires of the citizens themselves.
A fundamental aspect of placemaking is the importance of a bottom-up approach. Placemaking for Civic Engagement involves communities working together in both political and non-political actions to protect public values or make a change in a community. The goal of civic engagement is to address public concerns, resolve conflicts between groups, and promote the quality of the community, stemming from the real concerns and desires of the citizens themselves.
Strasbourg is among the few cities in the world that is not a state capital that hosts international organisations of the first order. It is the second city in France in terms of international congress and symposia, after Paris. Thanks to its exceptional historical heritage, the city also has the distinction of boasting a dual UNESCO World Heritage listing: Grande-Ile in 1988, then the Neustadt district in 2017.
Strasbourg is a very walkable city! The best way to discover the city is on foot or via bike, especially since most of its architectural and cultural heritage can be visited within a small area. There are plenty of picturesque spots where you can take a break without leaving a big carbon footprint behind.
In addition to its rich history, Strasbourg is a city that makes much effort to address modern-day issues. At this year’s festival, we look forward to a number of site visits and hands-on workshops where we can not only learn from the city’s previous efforts, but also help them move forward gracefully into the future, and also take our learnings and inspiration back with us to our own home towns after our time together there.
