Eclectis

European Citizens’ Laboratory for Empowerment: CiTIes Shared
Amsterdam | Barcelona | Brussels | Kotor | Ljubljana | Paris | Torres Vedras
European public spaces as laboratories

The project stakes deal with European space and citizens, and must therefore be addressed at European level. Partners have complementary skills and a strong geographical diversity, to cross looks and enrich the project reflection.
Actions are led at local, national and European scales, and bridged. Dedale, Waag, Expeditio,Prostoroz, Transforma and Idensitat have selected a public space in their cities, to implement the shared experimentation. Indeed, public spaces1 crystallise fragmentations and new uses operating in Europe: revealing different local stakes and cultural contexts, they can be privileged places for cultural diversity, intercultural dialogue and social innovation, particularly relevant to experiment transverse answers to favour creative, sustainable and citizen-centred approaches for urban development.
Observation, analysis and evaluation will be led at European level by EFAP: thus, site-specific experimentations will be in constant dialogue, giving the opportunity to go beyond local issues and to nurture the reflection at European level on transverse urban stakes.
Associated partners will be invited to share their experience, and be involved in the dissemination,ensuring a strong visibility to the project, in Europe and beyond.

Need for new answers to urban fragmentations

In the context of growing urbanisation and digital shift, cities have to face an acceleration of urban,social, cultural and economic fragmentations, reinforced by the economic crisis. This is a major issue at European level, more than 70% of European citizens living in cities, but even widely, at
international level: prospective studies value that in 2025, more than 2/3 of the world population will live in cities.
When dealing with urban fragmentations reduction, the traditional top-down process is showing its limits. There is a real demand from citizens, professionals and political stakeholders for new processes to make the city, bottom-up and participatory, favouring innovative answers, adapted to
new uses. Thus, cities need more than ever to exploit their creative resources to favour a smart,sustainable and inclusive development.

Experimenting a European creative and integrated urban development

The cultural sector has a main part to play in innovative practices development, to promote social urban innovation and to enhance European territories creative potential. The 7 partners have a strong experience in citizens’ involvement in urban development, and share the same interest for developing creative projects inspired by artistic and inclusive approaches, integrating citizens, urban planning professionals, local and political stakeholders.

ECLECTIS publication: A Contribution from cultural and creative actors to citizens' empowerment.

The objectives of this publication are:
• To share the experiences with all the stakeholders involved
• To reinforce the involvement of citizens & creative actors in city making
• To advocate their roles to policymakers from local to European level
• To bring narratives to the European Union, in order to contribute to the advocacy of the role of cultural and creative sectors in European policies

It targets political stakeholders; culture and urban planning professionals; citizens from all over Europe and beyond.

Download the publication here:

ECLECTIS publication

Recommendations

Dédale, Paris, FRANCE: Coordinator

Waag Society, Amsterdam, NETHERLANDS: Co-organiser

Expeditio, Kotor, MONTENEGRO: Co-org.

Prostoroz, Ljubjana, SLOVENIA: Co-org.

Transforma, Torres Vedras, PORTUGAL: Co-org.

Idensitat, Barcelona, SPAIN: Co-org.

European Forum for Architectural Policies, Brussels, BELGIUM: Co-org.

Associated partners: