Description
Conference WhatCity? is the series of presentations and workshops looking for new urban strategies and economic models of collaboration for more quality life in Bratislava. The professionals in design, architecture and urbanism are invited to come to Bratislava to discuss with local public and NGOs about the current problems of public space, and educate the citizens. After 2 years of holding the conference WhatCity?, there is the need to use the potential of the cross-sectoral expertise discussion for broader impact on urban plans of the city Bratislava. The main aim of the project “WhatCity? Forum” is to involve local representatives and employees of municipality into platform, of both local and foreign experts, NGOs and citizens, and commonly discuss the vision, more effective development of Bratislava. The themes of the following two conferences will be based on current issues that Municipality of Bratislava is proceeding in decision in upcoming periods. The topics will Municipality share half year in prior to the decision process to the conference organizers. Through the tools such as presentation, and meetings (either workshops or roundtables, the form to be decided based on the theme) there will be the active confrontation amongst the active citizens and representatives of Municipality. The key factor for success of this project, is that the initiative and willingness to increase the participation of the city plans with citizens is coming from Municipality Bratislava. The result of the project will be raised interest in public themes by both public and professionals, and active participation. Secondly, the representatives from the Municipality will be facing the citizens in person that can lead to 1. more personal contact with the public and representatives 2. greater degree of responsibility for decisions.
Summary of project results
The main benefit of the project were the strong connections which have grown among NGOs, as well as the cooperation between professional public and the municipality during the workshops. The project did not have a partner from donor countries, however the bilateral project (WhatCity? Network) has been very beneficial and indirectly influenced the overall conception of WhatCity? methodology in terms of its innovations. WhatCity project? Forum was needed to strengthen the public debate on the urbanistic development of Bratislava, to increase the openness of the City regarding discussion of the problematic topics, to follow functional solutions based on expert lectures by local and foreign experts. The sustainability of the project is primarily ensured by the outcome of the project in the form of workshop methodology that serves as a guide for creating a common platform for cross-sectoral collaborations in issues of public space. This methodology serves as an internal manual for the needs of PUNKT and contains experiences gathered from both conferences. The aim of the project was to further promote transparency in the development processes of the city and to create a space for confrontation of the lay and professionals public with public official. The public had the opportunity to confront him directly in the discussion about public space issues. By these means, the conference aims to increase the activism of citizens as well as their sensitivity to essential urban issues. The impact: the presence of city officials was essential in procuring the themes and interests which formulates WhatCity? Mutual confrontation helped to expand the openness of Municipality and in procuring bottom-up activities. During the workshops, a number of groups have formed that can effectively continue in their activities. The project fulfilled its goal in form of two WhatCity? conferences, connected with workshops. At the January conference - Complete Street we introduced 5 international experts who carried out their presentations on the theme of urbanism, followed by a discussion led by SGI. The target group is on the one hand citizens and general public who have been involved through public presentations and discussions, on the other hand professional public and employees of the Municipality and different city areas, who had space either in the presentation and discussion during the conference or in workshops where they could join the confrontation with other citizens and experts.
Summary of bilateral results