Placemaking Europe's 7th annual festival took place at Rotterdam's vibrant MerweVierhavens (M4H). This event provided valuable insights into creating inclusive, resilient, and dynamic cities. Rotterdam's rich history of transforming spaces made it the ideal host for a festival centered on inclusive creativity, dynamic resilience, and sustainable urban development. The Keilepand served as the main venue, with Katoenhuis as a key location showcasing inspiring placemaking initiatives.
During Placemakig Europe, Katoenhuis hosted a large part of the program, featuring parallel sessions and morning meditations over the four days! One of the presentations was the presentation of the Creative Footprint by N8W8 - a VibeLab research project that investigates creative spaces and communities to analyse the cultural value and impact of music and nightlife in the city.
Festival Theme
Placemaking Europe delves into a range of interrelated topics such as gender, multigenerational spaces, place-based economic development, technology, smart cities, inclusive prosperity, creative bureaucracy, and arts and culture. The annual festival focuses on four main themes that align with these approaches and reflect Rotterdam's specific placemaking initiatives.
Creating Place & Making it Last
This theme ensures that placemaking has a lasting impact, creating inclusive and resilient urban spaces. It emphasizes the importance of integrating cultural capital into urban development and fostering sustainable collaborations with diverse communities. Innovative solutions are encouraged, blending short-term initiatives with long-term transformations.
Climate Adaptation: Together Towards Change
Placemaking plays a vital role in enhancing community and city resilience against climate change impacts such as flooding and heatwaves. This theme aims to engage inhabitants in climate adaptation efforts, promoting nature-based and regenerative practices for greener and healthier environments.
Living with Water, The Flow of the City
This theme explores the evolving relationship between urban areas and waterfronts. It celebrates the integration of urban life with waterways, drawing on local history and innovations to create vibrant, inclusive waterfront spaces. The focus is on enhancing the connection and awareness of water among urban residents.
Local Power & The Battle for Space
This theme emphasizes the importance of local creatives, artists, community builders, and social programmers in shaping the identity of places. It recognizes the significance of meanwhile-spaces for arts, culture, and community as essential for urban vitality. The theme explores ways to support and sustain these local forces to foster vibrant, innovative, and inclusive cities.
Credit: Eric Fecken