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from exhibitions to social change?[ A ]utonoma International ConferenceOnassis Cultural CenterAthens 01.07.16Maria Kikidou_Urban Planner and Designer, M.ScMarianna Patelida_Urban and Regional PlannerGiorgos Somarakis_Urban and Regional Planner, Phd Candidate

The Starting point for this research has been the consideration that residents are not only receivers, but also creators of public space. A consideration that constituted the core of the controversy about the top-down approach of urban planning. During the past decades we have been seeing an increasing number of citizen efforts/bottom-up initiatives that demand participation in the city making.

about.Could IMAGINE THE CITY, as a public exhibition, and its local teams development, bring social change ?Have the exhibitions impacted on communities and decision-making processes in a local level ?

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This research studies urban planning exhibitions as a technique of public participation, and its potential for impact and change in the decision making processes. As a case study, we have used Imagine the City exhibitions, a series of exhibitions that have been organized in different cities all over Greece since 2010.

from crisis to public participation in urban space.2crisis in cities_unwillingness of most of national governments to offer social admissible solutions - limited decision making for local authorities by governments

local urban social movements_claiming the right for intervention - considering urban space as part of commons - demanding public engagement in decision making

public participation in urban decision making or planning process_two main levels of participation (information flow as criterion of categorization) - plenty of different methods and techniques with common elements

The crisis in cities is detected in a constricting policy framework with low participationlocal urban social movements or groups emerge claiming the right for intervention to the city - criticize top-down decisions, while believe that public engagement in decision making is crucial for effective solving of urban problemsThe academic discourse for public participation distinguishes two main levels: lowest and highest In the lowest level, the public is informed about the proposed policies or plans (one-way flow), whereas in the highest level, there is exchange of information, and public views may affect final choices. Information is used for educating/motivating public about an issue in order to increase its awareness and prepare it for a participatory procedure of the highest level.

public (urban) exhibitions.usage for information dissemination or/and raising awareness (possibility for public feedback)

most substantial factors: topic, audience and location of exhibition

broad application including spatial planning:compatibility with other participatory proceduresvariety of types (from innovative to ordinary)rganisation by local authorities or othersproximity to study area - installation in public halls or other placesinformation not only about proposed urban planning policies

Exhibits isa tool that falls in the lowest level public participationExhibits are used as a way of visual (can be seen or even touched) information presentation It is location-specific & can be applied for diverse sectors as spatial and urban planningexhibitions can be combined with other participatory procedures at earlier or subsequent stages of planning process / a variety of exhibits can be presented / gives the possibility for interaction with the public / usually organised by local authorities about the city which the exhibition takes place

IMAGINE THE CITY (ITC) exhibitions are open to the public exhibitions where plans, researches, proposals and ideas for the urban development of a specific city are showcased.3

Citizens needsResearchers ideas

13 cities 632 urban researchers 434 exhibits 169 side events 142 local team members +30.000 participantsChalkida 2010Aghios Dimitrios 2011Volos 2012Heraklion 2012Rethymno 2012Messolonghi 2013Pyrgos 2013Korinthos 2013Aegina 2013Kozani 2013

Thessaloniki 2014Patras 2014Kalamata 2015

The expansion of the initiative has been principally organic. Apart from the first exhibition in Chalkida, which was organized by ITCs core team, and the exhibition in Volos, which was developed as a side-event of IDEATOPOS conference 28, all exhibitions have been organized by local teams as their own initiative.At the moment, ITC has grown into an open dynamic network of active teams and individuals that develops and supports activities about the image and culture of Greek cities.

This photos capture one of the main aims of ITC which is that the citizens start talking and thinking about their cities potential.

Citizens

Local authoritiesResearchersOpenessCollaborationParticipation

... iTC ?

the common principles have been the locality and interaction with urban environment, the reactivation of abandoned spaces within the city, the involvement of local stakeholders and the participation of all age groups.

methodology.What was the internal structure of local teams and how each of them collaborated with the core team?How ITC, as a sparking idea, contributed in the formation of potential teams/ventures and future activities involving public? To what extent, have the exhibitions raised public awareness about citizens potential role in urban planning, encouraged groups of local citizens, and affected the decision-making processes in cities?public urban spaces citizens right to participate in urban planningITCassumptionsas commonsas an application of public exhibition toolsub queries4

13 cities / local teams 37 respondents

How ITC evolved as a community and how was the relationship between local teams and core team ?Cause of creation and period of activities of 12 local teams

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ages[25-34] -- 73%[35-44] -- 27%

coordinators -- 43%members -- 43%volunteers -- 14%

continued activities for up to 18 months from the end of exhibition (3 teams)created before ITC exhibition (3 teams)

created for ITC exhibition (9 teams)continue activities until now (3 teams)paused activities after the end of exhibition (6 teams)

Which collaboration schemes did local teams use? What was the personal development of the members by the exhibitions organisation?Lessons learnt during the organization of the exhibitionWorking MethodsHelp of local coordinatorTask distributionCollective decision-making5

What was the interest of the stakeholders within each city, such as citizens, institutions, (local) authorities etc., during the exhibition?5

n/a54

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1exhibitionsparallel eventsAssessment of satisfaction in citizens attendance

Assessment of factors affecting the exhibitions attendanceValue scale (1-5) of Assessment

What was the impact of ITC exhibitions and parallel events?5citizenslocal authoritieschambers/collectivesAssessment of ITCs effect in citizens awareness/interest about their citys issuesAssessment of ITCs effect in: citizens involvement in urban planning (local authorities initiatives) and decision-making in their cities, chambers/collectives (related to urban issues) involvement in urban planning and decision-making

6conclusions.

ITC empowers citizens through two distinct ways:

local teams and exhibitions spread the idea across Greecethe principle of openness and the independency of local teams and allow them to develop the exhibition based on their skills and the needs of their own city lessons learntcitizens are interested in participating and supporting creative initiatives, and the work of some active citizens, who show genuine interest, seemed to really inspire otherstime is needed to catalyze change, both in the perception of citizens and the initiatives taken by public authorities

- Tessy Britton -

mariannapatelida@hotmail.commkikidou@gmail.comMarianna PatelidaMaria KikidouGiorgos Somarakisgesomara@gmail.comPeople across the globe are rediscovering the pleasures and benefits of common activity not as passive consumers of culture, but as active makers of where they live. This new type of participation and independent creativity at scale has the potential to seriously disrupt many of our existing systems.