Urban public spaces fulfill important societal functions and shape many of the characteristics of cities and urban areas. However, there are several dilemmas (competing goals, interests, strategies, etc.) involved in their development and maintenance. In simpler terms, addressing one issue/challenge in an urban context might have negative effects in another realm. Regarding urban public spaces, for instance, typical crossings of concerns relate to everyone’ right to the city, openness to different societal groups, climate change actions and how to cater for safety and security without promoting increasingly exclusive spaces. ‘Inclusive Public Spaces for Urban Livability’ is one of the thematic priorities of JPI Urban Europe’s SRIA 2.0.
In order to discuss these issues with you, JPI Urban Europe would like to invite you to a workshop dedicated to unfold the dilemmas of urban public spaces. You are welcome to share your expertise, perspectives and experiences from your work and ongoing and/or past projects and to exchange/co-create with colleagues in this multi- and interdisciplinary workshop.
This AGORA Thematic Dialogue will bring together 30-40 participants from urban administration and public authorities, research community, SMEs and business representatives, civil society and grassroots organizations as well as other urban actors working on related topics.
Registration for the workshop is now open here.
We would like to ask you to submit a brief abstract/position paper/opinion/ of 400-500 words together with your registration, which reflects your expertise and perspectives. Your contribution will be part of a workshop booklet, which will be distributed to the participants before the event.
The results of this workshop will be used by JPI Urban Europe to (a) develop a policy brief on the matter of dilemmas related to urban public spaces (participants are welcome to be listed as contributors); (b)generate input for its 2020 joint call ERA-NET Cofund Urban Transition Capacities; and (c) provide input to the Urban Agenda for the EU Partnership on Security of Public Spaces.
20 November
| 16.00 | Guided tour in host city on the topic of public space; green-blue infrastructure, placemaking, or similar |
| 19.00 | Joint Dinner |
21 November
| 09.00-17.00 | AGORA Workshop: Dilemmas of Public Space |
The workshop is kindly hosted by the Ministry of Education and Science of Latvia and the State Education Development Agency of Latvia. To get an idea of past AGORA workshops please have a look here.
Registered participants will receive more information, a detailed agenda of the workshop as well as practical information in due course. If you have any questions or comments, please contact Johannes Riegler (Johannes.riegler@jpi-urbaneurope.eu).