Public Spaces in Post-communism reading group
reading Group Public Spaces in Post-communism
What is public space? Who does public space belong to? Who has the right to use a public space? How are public spaces created? What is the condition of public spaces in Chisinau? How can we contribute to setting up new public spaces in the city? How can we win back public spaces from private players? What we had (public spaces in communism) and what are we left with (public spaces in capitalism)?
These are some of the questions that will be asked within the reading group Public Spaces in Post-communism organised between 16th of July and 23rd of August 2012, at Zemstvei House, 103 Sciusev St., Chisinau. The meetings of the reading group will take place on Mondays and Thursdays between 18:00 and 21:00 hrs.
This activity is organized by Oberliht Association (http://oberliht.com) in the frame of the EU project SPACES. The SPACES project is financed by the European Union through the Eastern Partnership Culture Programme.
SPACES (Sustainable Public Areas for Culture in Eastern Countries) project assembles artists and cultural workers in four Eastern partner countries, Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine, who aim at reflecting societal issues in the public realm of their city. It also aims at strengthening the independent art and culture scene.
The key word is capacity building – from developing a better standing in negotiations with governmental agencies, to processes of self- learning, increasing contact with civil society audiences, and finding new spaces where art and culture can take place. The core question of the project: How can art and culture regain public space(s) for citizens, especially for young people? SPACES will curate and carry out participatory art events in public spaces in the four countries. Processes of networking, social research and policy debates will accompany the in situ events. A better understanding of the role culture and art can play with regard to public space in post communist spaces, a stronger lobby for the independent scenes, new concepts for cultural governance in the region: these are some of the SPACES results.
