Idea Camp 2014_Ideas Booklet_low res

Redefining Public Spacein 50 Ideasby Katherine Watson, Director European CulturalFoundationIn the summer of 2014 we received an astonishing 813 proposalsin response to our European-wide call for ideas that engage peoplein re-defining and shaping public space. From among this treasuretrove of applications, we have selected representatives of the 50most innovative, daring and inspiring ideas to join ECF’s first IdeaCamp.Katherine WatsonThe participants, whom we invite you to meet in this booklet, come from 23different countries, from across the EU as well as from neighbouring regions,including the Arab Mediterranean region, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine and theWestern Balkans. They represent organisations from a vast array of sectors,from academia to environmental bodies, from human rights, architecture,social & civic activism and city planning through to media, arts and culture.The huge diversity of sectors represented means that the ideas are equallydiverse. Some of the ideas are focused on rural or ecological issues whileothers highlight urban or digital topics.In our experience, positive change through culture first becomes apparentin local communities. We want to extend our connection with people whoare raising awareness of their creative potential to generate new social,environmental, economic and democratic models through their culturalpractices. This is why we are working in partnership with six community hubsto develop a networked programme of Connected Action for Public Space.Within ECF’s strategic objective to Connect Culture, Communities andDemocracy, the work of the six hubs will focus on the commons, public space,culture and economy. This theme runs through this first Idea Camp, hosted byLes Têtes de l’Art in Marseille.By working in this networked way, we recognise that our role in contemporaryphilanthropy should go beyond project-based initiatives. By focusing onmethods and shaping common values, together with a broad array of crosssectoralstakeholders, our networked programme of Connected Actionfor Public Space has the potential to increase the effectiveness of projects, aswell as creating a sustainable and more enduring platform to advocate for theintegral role culture plays in Europe.4