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Beyond Site/Sight: International conference on cultural spaces and the conditions of creativity

Four people on stage. Audience listening. Photo.
One theme of the conference is placemaking. Dennis Kerkhof, Kirsti Mathiesen Hjemdahl and Natalia Bobadilla, together with Marie Ledendal, discussed various local examples.

On June 12, the three-day international conference Beyond Site/Sight, organised by the interdisciplinary network CROCUS at Lund University, in collaboration with the City of Helsingborg and Region Skåne, started. The theme is cultural spaces and the conditions of creativity based on placemaking.

Around 70 participants will take part in a fully stocked programme at the old fire station in Gåsebäck and at Dunkers Kulturhus in Helsingborg. The first day of the conference focused on research and research methods, while the second day will address issues of policy and implementation. The third day will focus on education and interdisciplinary opportunities for education.

– During these days, researchers from different disciplines, artists and practitioners in culture and creativity will meet. Together we build a community with a focus on networking and where new collaborations can be created," says Cecilia Fredriksson, project manager for CROCUS.

The programme on day 1 started with a panel discussion between Dennis Kerkhof, City of Helsingborg; Kirsti Mathiesen Hjemdahl, Cultiva Foundation and Natalia Bobadilla, LABEX ICCA. Together with Marie Ledendal, the panel discussed various local examples of the development and emergence of creative places. Dennis Kerkhof explained how the city is working to develop the Gåsebäck area and what has been important in the process, such as participation and communication with the actors already present in the area.

Woman talking in microphone. Photo.
– The theme fits particularly well here at the Fire Station, as it is an area that is being transformed. Maybe this will be a future hub for creativity? There has never been a conference here before either, so this is a pioneering project, says Cecilia Fredriksson.

Several of the conference participants have shared their reflections on place-making, which are available on the CROCUS website. The conversations from the programme are recorded and will be available afterwards.