Cultuur&Campus Putselaan (C&CP) pilots a new approach to city making through education, research, policy and culture, in the heart of Rotterdam South. In its contribution to tackling societal and environmental challenges, it supports the coming together of different types of knowledge - theoretical, practical, from the arts and sciences - with the lived experiences of citizens. First, by co-creating a vibrant site of encounter, dialogue and shared learning. C&CP will be housed in a historical building located on the Putselaan, in Rotterdam South. The refurbishment of the building unites a sustainable re-design vision of students of architecture and built environment, integrating the wishes and needs of local stakeholders, in a part of town where higher education and cultural institutions are scarce. C&CP will be a hub for students, residents, social enterprise start-ups, lecturers and researchers – a place for learning, studying, community, art and culture. The hub will also host creative placemaking initiatives, centred around artistic and cultural collaborations with practitioners and citizens. While focusing on the renovation of the building, we started programming activities and events in other locations and in partnership with stakeholders locally, and also at our temporary location at the Hillevliet, enabling us to build momentum for C&CP prior to the official opening of the building. Second, C&CP facilitates the co-design of impact-oriented learning curricula that can make the area more sustainable, inclusive, and enriching. We have transformed our curricula at Bachelor and Master level courses, where we are testing innovative didactic approaches geared towards activating and inspiring citizens, students, and lecturers in shaping a better future for Rotterdam South. By transforming our curricula and developing innovative education, we are also leveraging the power of arts and culture learning and research for inclusive and sustainable city-making. We are also working towards lifelong learning formats and micro-credentials that can open up learning and exchange to learners beyond our student cohort. In transforming our education, we are also teaching outside of the campus, including at our temporary location in Rotterdam South. Third, our project is based on participatory research and citizen science, engaging residents in the processes that shape their city and delivers a sound understanding of the area, its challenges, and opportunities, based on shared ownership. Our research plans have been co-designed with residents, and based on a participative needs assessment. Similarly, our creative placemaking programming builds on the strengthening connections with local stakeholders and practitioners. Our C&CP pilot works towards a longer-term vision for a larger space for learning, culture and community partnership and initiatives in Rotterdam South, centred around the city’s arts and culture higher education institutions and the municipality. We are also evaluating our experience, and identifying the most effective strategies for delivering territorial transformations that build on situated knowledge and visions shaped and implemented through multi-stakeholder and multi-level collaborations.
