urban matters

The research project Spatial Practices in Art and ArChitecture for Empathetic EXchange (SPACEX) responds to the troubling rise of populist nationalism and conflict in European societies by engaging new publics and forging a culture that embraces diversity, difference, and discursive exchange within cities, towns and urban sites.

SPACEX proposes that inventing new and inclusive ways of living together, requires the implementation of new transdisciplinary and cross-sectoral practices and methods, that connect spatial practice with cultural sociology, cultural policy, critical pedagogies and behavioural economics.

The SPACEX Townhall Meeting in Vienna is a major public event at the final stage of SPACEX and focusses on Empathetic Exchange as vital topic of SPACEX: To discuss and make the goals of SPACEX tangible, for counteracting right wing demagogies in Europe and enhancing democratic values through artistic and socially engaged strategies and projects of art and architecture. Especially in the perspective of our turmoiled political situation in Europe, this event — and the engagement of SPACEX altogether — is more relevant than ever.

An evening of discussions and performances (17:00–20:00)
With contributions by:
Mel Jordan (Coventry University) and Andrew Hewitt (University of Northampton), leaders of SPACEX; Jitka Hlavačková (Prague City Gallery/ GHMP, Prague), Susanne Prinz (Kunstverein am Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz, Berlin), Vittorio Iervese (Università di Modena, Modena), Aline Hernandez/ Marianna Takou (CASCO Art Institute, Utrecht); Annette Krauss (University of Applied Arts Vienna), Julienne Lorz (University of Applied Arts Vienna), Barbara Putz-Plecko (University of Applied Arts Vienna / former Head of the Dept. Art and Communicative Practice), Cornelia Offergeld (Public Art Vienna) and others.
Moderation: Kathrin Wildner (urban ethnologist, metroZones, Berlin).

The SPACEX Townhall Meeting is convened by Barbara Holub and Paul Rajakovics as partners of SPACEX.
For information see here.