SAVE THE DATE
In January 2024, the EFS conference comes back to enrich Amsterdam's cultural mycelium. Guided by the question "How can we enable and sustain access to space for the next generation of cultural makers?" we aim to come together from different substrates of the soil and spark collaborative visions for the future of the city. This is not just a gathering; it's a call to action, urging us to reflect, unlearn, envision and practice what community resilience and participative citymaking could look like. Our mission is clear: to catalyze collaboration and inspire actionable solutions.
From dusk till dawn, over 3 days we will host workshops and panel discussions punctuated by nightly explorations of sound, visuals and performance by a rich and interwoven network of voices: urban changemakers, political agents, spatial pioneers, scientists, artists, musicians and you. Join us in this collective journey, building a path towards a city where citizens do not only have a voice, but are the makers of meaningful and impactful change.
Let's manifest our shared vision for urban futures, leaving no one behind. Let's outline our paths towards a more inclusive, vibrant and culturally rich Amsterdam where free space is not only recognized as a necessity but also celebrated as the heart of our metropolitan identity. This conference is meant to spawn a myriad of ideas that will grow into tangible, transformative approaches. By questioning the role of space, arts and culture in societal change, we aim to reach beyond the confines of physical spaces and nurture the sprouts of their cultural significance. By creating space for togetherness, we are building bridges among worlds and generating healing in times of crisis.
For this gathering, we invite you to take part in the 3-day participatory journey:
Day 1: Thursday 18.01
Nightculture, Space & Solidarity
Goal of the day: How can nightlife change the way we live in the daytime? Reflect, unlearn, envision, exchange:
> How can we enable access to space for the next generation of cultural makers in the city center of Amsterdam?
> What is the essence of free space, and for whom? By delving into limitless horizons and echoes of spatial justice through diaspora narratives, we aim to explore these questions and many others that may arise along the way.
Day 2: Friday 19.01
How can we enable and sustain access to space?
Goal of the day: Cross-pollinating intersectional visions for enabling and sustaining access to space for the current and the next generation of cultural makers.
> How can we ensure the survival of free cultural spaces for present and future generations?
> How can cultural free spaces be pockets of imagination geared towards a circular/doughnut economy?
Day 3: Saturday 20.01
Free space, community & societal change:
Goal of the day: Strengthening the mycelium from the grassroots.
>How can we enhance community resilience?
> How can our networks work better towards a shared direction? How can the city foster self-organization? What steps can we take collectively to nurture collaboration and change?
The “Envisioning Free Space” conference is the culmination of an ongoing collaboration between curators/researchers Liese Kingma and Bogomir Doringer. Supported by the departments of (Vrije Ruimte & Bureau Broedplaatsen, & Circulair/Duurzaamheid, Aanpak Binnenstad (City of Amsterdam), EFS’24 seeks to provide an enhancement of the cultural mycelium, devise a contribution to building a common narrative for culture and the arts and develop methods of embedding nightlife and free spaces within the spatial design of the city. Collectively, we’ll propose solutions to the challenges of access that are truly by and for these same communities using nightlife as a bastion of self-expression and creativity.
Envisioning Free Space IG
Space of Urgency
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