Periodic Reporting for period 1 - SPACEX (Spatial Practices in Art and ArChitecture for Empathetic EXchange (SPACEX))
Berichtszeitraum: 2020-03-01 bis 2023-12-31
The Spatial Practices in Art and Architecture for Empathetic Exchange (SPACEX) project responds to the challenges posed by the rise of populist nationalism and conflict in European societies. SPACEX aims to engage diverse communities through cultural activities, fostering an environment that celebrates and embraces diversity within cities, towns, and urban sites.
The goal of SPACEX is to establish a European-wide knowledge exchange network aimed at showcasing how spatial practices influence public exchange and shape opinion formation within urban environments. By promoting empathetic and inclusive modes of coexistence, the project seeks to foster harmonious living. This initiative unites researchers from the higher education sector with cultural organizations to delve into how culture can facilitate a more cohesive society.
The SPACEX consortium is composed of 29 beneficiaries, including 13 universities and academies, as well as 16 cultural organizations such as museums, galleries, and arts organizations, spanning across 11 EU countries with one partner in Palestine. This diverse composition empowers SPACEX researchers to engage in secondments across a spectrum of esteemed academic institutions, research institutes, arts organizations, biennials, urban agencies, and even a film festival.
SPACEX overall objectives:
• To create new art, architecture, and design projects in public space, and measure and document how these practices intervene in urban space to promote new and inclusive ways of living together.
• To understand how both new and historical new art, architecture, and design projects generate an informal approach to producing new subjectivities and enabling community and the commons to thrive.
• To analyse historical and concurrent knowledge stored in archives on the role spatial practices play in addressing issues of democratic exchange and conflict resolution.
• To create new knowledge that can be utilised to inform and shape future cultural and social policy and the practice of urban planning and the production of empathetic communities.
The goal of SPACEX is to establish a European-wide knowledge exchange network aimed at showcasing how spatial practices influence public exchange and shape opinion formation within urban environments. By promoting empathetic and inclusive modes of coexistence, the project seeks to foster harmonious living. This initiative unites researchers from the higher education sector with cultural organizations to delve into how culture can facilitate a more cohesive society.
The SPACEX consortium is composed of 29 beneficiaries, including 13 universities and academies, as well as 16 cultural organizations such as museums, galleries, and arts organizations, spanning across 11 EU countries with one partner in Palestine. This diverse composition empowers SPACEX researchers to engage in secondments across a spectrum of esteemed academic institutions, research institutes, arts organizations, biennials, urban agencies, and even a film festival.
SPACEX overall objectives:
• To create new art, architecture, and design projects in public space, and measure and document how these practices intervene in urban space to promote new and inclusive ways of living together.
• To understand how both new and historical new art, architecture, and design projects generate an informal approach to producing new subjectivities and enabling community and the commons to thrive.
• To analyse historical and concurrent knowledge stored in archives on the role spatial practices play in addressing issues of democratic exchange and conflict resolution.
• To create new knowledge that can be utilised to inform and shape future cultural and social policy and the practice of urban planning and the production of empathetic communities.
During the first phase of the project, from January 2022 to January 2024, researchers in the consortium participated in various training events. These sessions focused on exploring the diverse research methodologies we employ, spanning disciplines such as Cultural Sociology, Critical Pedagogical Practices, Behavioural Economics, and Cultural Policy. These activities helped SPACEX researchers understand the project's context and fostered stronger connections within the network, leading to new and enduring collaborations across the consortium. The SPACEX researchers hail from a wide array of disciplines, including cultural sociology, critical pedagogical practice, behavioural economics, visual culture, art history, curatorial studies, cultural policy, education, architecture, art and design practice, and urban studies. Training plays a crucial role in the project, as it brings together both early career and seasoned researchers to learn and grow together, enhancing their knowledge and skills for future career opportunities.
The researchers have commenced their secondments, engaging with host organizations to advance their research endeavors. The project's framework facilitates collaboration between university researchers and those from cultural organizations, encouraging them to operate within each other's professional environments across national borders. These researchers are divided into three work package groups: Practices, Urban Subjects, and Archives. Each group focuses on specific topics and questions that guide their research and activities.
During the initial phase, secondment activities have catalysed new research endeavours, resulting in the creation of spatial artworks, exhibitions, talks, conference presentations, and journal articles. This wealth of information is documented on our website, accompanied by insightful blogs penned by researchers detailing their experiences. As the second period unfolds, we anticipate a surge in activity with the completion of additional secondments. From this expanded effort, we aim to develop three comprehensive best practice reports, which will distil our findings, showcase case studies, and offer practical recommendations for wider adoption. These insights will also be disseminated to a broader audience through an international conference. Furthermore, selected works and activities will form the foundation of a forthcoming book on spatial practice. Additionally, we plan to organize three events across Europe where our findings will be exhibited and discussed with diverse audiences and stakeholders.
The researchers have commenced their secondments, engaging with host organizations to advance their research endeavors. The project's framework facilitates collaboration between university researchers and those from cultural organizations, encouraging them to operate within each other's professional environments across national borders. These researchers are divided into three work package groups: Practices, Urban Subjects, and Archives. Each group focuses on specific topics and questions that guide their research and activities.
During the initial phase, secondment activities have catalysed new research endeavours, resulting in the creation of spatial artworks, exhibitions, talks, conference presentations, and journal articles. This wealth of information is documented on our website, accompanied by insightful blogs penned by researchers detailing their experiences. As the second period unfolds, we anticipate a surge in activity with the completion of additional secondments. From this expanded effort, we aim to develop three comprehensive best practice reports, which will distil our findings, showcase case studies, and offer practical recommendations for wider adoption. These insights will also be disseminated to a broader audience through an international conference. Furthermore, selected works and activities will form the foundation of a forthcoming book on spatial practice. Additionally, we plan to organize three events across Europe where our findings will be exhibited and discussed with diverse audiences and stakeholders.
The SPACEX project serves as a collaborative platform, uniting researchers, practitioners, and cultural workers to explore the potential of innovative spatial and social interventions in fostering inclusive, diverse, and vibrant communities within urban environments.
As the first large-scale initiative of its kind, SPACEX bridges the gap between academic researchers in universities and cultural specialists in galleries, museums, and art organizations. This dynamic network is rapidly expanding, broadening its scope to facilitate knowledge exchange with fellow researchers, practitioners, commissioners, public authorities, policymakers, and the general public. By doing so, the network endeavors to influence and shape future urban planning initiatives to incorporate inclusive practices.
For the first time, SPACEX brings together a diverse array of expertise to examine the interplay between spatial practices, public spaces, and community dynamics. This collaborative effort aims to inform the development of more sustainable, equitable, and sociable urban spaces conducive to community living. Through rigorous analysis and understanding of this process, spanning various European contexts, the project seeks to discern the impact of spatial interventions on individuals and communities.
Furthermore, SPACEX explores the archival aspects of this work, exploring how archives and their contents can serve as valuable resources for fostering exchange and addressing societal challenges among different social groups.
SPACEX's activities exemplify how spatial practices influence public discourse and opinion shaping, amplify the visibility of minority social groups, and catalyze democratic engagement. Despite its pivotal role, this cultural function often remains marginalized in conventional economic assessments and prevailing notions of cultural value. SPACEX compellingly argues for the recognition of these attributes, offering empirical evidence that investment and public subsidy mechanisms must evolve to embrace the intrinsic significance of spaces for cultural exchange.
As the first large-scale initiative of its kind, SPACEX bridges the gap between academic researchers in universities and cultural specialists in galleries, museums, and art organizations. This dynamic network is rapidly expanding, broadening its scope to facilitate knowledge exchange with fellow researchers, practitioners, commissioners, public authorities, policymakers, and the general public. By doing so, the network endeavors to influence and shape future urban planning initiatives to incorporate inclusive practices.
For the first time, SPACEX brings together a diverse array of expertise to examine the interplay between spatial practices, public spaces, and community dynamics. This collaborative effort aims to inform the development of more sustainable, equitable, and sociable urban spaces conducive to community living. Through rigorous analysis and understanding of this process, spanning various European contexts, the project seeks to discern the impact of spatial interventions on individuals and communities.
Furthermore, SPACEX explores the archival aspects of this work, exploring how archives and their contents can serve as valuable resources for fostering exchange and addressing societal challenges among different social groups.
SPACEX's activities exemplify how spatial practices influence public discourse and opinion shaping, amplify the visibility of minority social groups, and catalyze democratic engagement. Despite its pivotal role, this cultural function often remains marginalized in conventional economic assessments and prevailing notions of cultural value. SPACEX compellingly argues for the recognition of these attributes, offering empirical evidence that investment and public subsidy mechanisms must evolve to embrace the intrinsic significance of spaces for cultural exchange.