Nova Gorica, Slovenia
Representatives: Blaž Kosovel, Miha Kosovel
Goriška Humanist Association is a cultural NGO active since 2006, when a group of humanist and social studies students formed an association to serve as a platform for organising debates, lectures, panel discussions, and other cultural events.
Being one of the most active cultural organisations in Western Slovenia and having been invited to play an important part in the Nova Gorica European Capital of Culture 2025 programme.
The association is the publisher of Razpotja (Crossroads) is a quarterly magazine aimed at fostering an informed public discussion on issues of general concern. Founded in 2010, it has become one of the leading cultural and intellectual magazines in Slovenia.
It also organises Mesto knjige (City of Books), the biggest book festival and fair in Slovenia outside of the capital.
The association also manages Carinarnica, a cultural hub for the development of non-governmental and urban culture, located in the former border control building between Slovenia and Italy.
Fritz Heckert (Chemnitz), Germany
Representatives: Marcus Heinke
The Kulturhaupstadt Europas Chemnitz 2025 gGmbH is a 100% subsidiary of the City of Chemnitz. The organisation is responsible for the development and realisation of all cultural and artistic activities for the “European Capital of Culture Chemnitz 2025” programme, a title awarded by the EU as part of the “European Capital of Culture’’ programme. Under the programme title “C the Unseen”, the organisation is developing a cross-border programme with an European dimension in the areas of: culture, art, sociocultural, sport, maker activities, children and youth activities and communication - each geared towards horizontal objectives such as: intergenerational activities, sustainability, inclusion and diversity. The resulting main programme will include around 100 national and international projects. In addition to the programme for the Capital of Culture year 2025, the company is developing multi-year programmes for the sustainability of its cultural activities at European level and a legacy structure for the continuation of successful activities.
Fritz Heckert (Chemnitz), Germany
Representatives: Verena Pfeiffer-Kloss
Cultural expert and grassroots organisation, working in Fritz Heckert Gebiet, host of the Network Lab in Fritz Heckert Gebiet.
Dunaújváros, Hungary
Representatives: Csaba Gyöngyössy, Gabriella Zsinka, Nóra Deák
The Institute of Contemporary Art - Dunaújváros (ICA-D) is one of the most important non-profit provincial exhibition institutions of Hungarian contemporary culture with a long tradition, which has been a bastion of independent, free contemporary art in Hungary for more than three decades. In addition to organising exhibitions and cultural programmes, the Institute has earned its professional reputation by building up one of the most important contemporary art collections in the country. We are proud of the fact that under the auspices of the Institute, cultural products have been and are still being produced in Dunaújváros, which have proved to be worthy of international success and high diplomatic attention.
The ICA-D is an exhibition institution that is not only a home for contemporary art, music, literature and social sciences, but has since its foundation sought to report on current phenomena of micro- and macro-level concern to society, whether political or public, through the unlimited and admirable means of art, and to promote free thinking and community discussion.
Representatives: Michelle Provoost, Simone Rots, Caterina Tioli
Platform for research and knowledge exchange, coordinator and organiser of the project. The Institute is experienced with organising international network meetings and has extensive knowledge and experience with New Towns.
Ilijaš, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Representatives: Irfan Salihagić, Samna Durmo, Sanja Zagorac-Jozić
The Municipality Ilijaš, nestled along the river Misoča, holds a rich historical heritage tracing back to the early Middle Ages, evident in scattered necropolises of stećaks, ancient tombstones. The medieval Bosnian town of Dubrovnik, designated a national cultural monument since 2003, reflects past economic endeavors intertwined with Ban Kulin’s approval and the discovery of valuable mines. Its strategic location near the Šija hill’s pivotal crossroads connects Ilijaš to significant political and economic centers like Visoko and Olovo. Despite enduring plague epidemics, Ilijaš saw transformative developments in the 20th century, spurred by Austria-Hungary’s occupation and the advent of railway lines, fostering industrial growth.
Today, the Municipality Ilijaš experiences rapid growth, offering appealing investment opportunities for small and medium enterprises across diverse sectors. Leveraging its experience and tradition, Ilijaš facilitates the application of modern technologies in metallurgy, metal, and wood industries, aided by abundant forests and a skilled workforce. The expanding agricultural sector opens avenues for investment in food and beverage industries, accessing markets in the Sarajevo macro-region and beyond. Emerging as a tourist destination, Ilijaš showcases attractions like the Bijambare Protected Area and the historic Koposići necropolis. Local governance ensures effective administration and development planning, fostering resilience and rejuvenation amidst historical challenges. The local administration along with the community is working on establishing the re-envisioned identity of the town, established on the rich natural, cultural and industrial history.
Dimitrovgrad, Bulgaria
Representatives: Yasho Minkov, Yoana Mitvichina
The Municipality of Dimitrovgrad is located in the central part of the South Central Region of Bulgaria. Administratively, it belongs to the District of Haskovo. The territory of Dimitrovgrad is traversed by main roads and railway arteries, including the European Corridor №10, connecting Western Europe with Asia. The population of the municipality is 64,362 people by permanent address, with 49,218 representing the population of Dimitrovgrad. The Municipality of Dimitrovgrad is dedicated to the preservation of its architectural heritage. Through concerted efforts, the municipality is engaged in organizing events and lectures that aim to educate and enlighten the local community about the rich historical and architectural legacy of the area.The Municipality is equally committed to nurturing and renovating the existing green spaces and parks.
Zoetermeer, Netherlands
Representatives: Magriet Panman
Within the consortium, Zoetermeer is the New Town that has delivered the most extensive research into the history and the ideas behind the architecture, the planning and the green areas of the city. The methods of communicating and creating support for young heritage are an inherent part of their work. It tackles not only preservation but mostly using transformation to create a viable and liveable future town.
Dimitrovgrad, Bulgaria
Representatives: Aneta Vasileva
Cultural, expert and educational initiative, based in Sofia, Bulgaria. It brings together different experts to study, promote and strategically develop postwar architecture convinced that keeping the values of our “new” heritage will ensure multilayered modern cities with preserved diversity - a necessary condition for their economic, social and cultural development.
Ilijaš, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Representatives: Elša Turkušić, Maja Pličanić
The National Committee ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites) in Bosnia and Herzegovina was established in 2009. It gathers about 25 members, the experts from various fields: architecture, history, history of art, archaeology, visual arts, management, law, electrical engineering. Its activity is based on the affirmation of the value and preservation of all types of cultural, built and natural heritage; the improvement of standards and techniques; the application of new methodologies and procedures in the principles of contemporary conservation.
So far, a number of projects in the field of culture and architectural heritage have been realized in BiH in cooperation with relevant domestic and international cultural institutions. Special attention is paid to work with local communities and education of youth. In this context, for nine years there has been very good cooperation with the Ilijaš-based foundation “Old-bosnian Dubrovnik” and the Municipality of Ilijaš, where the NK ICOMOS in BiH has an advisory role in the processes of restoration and promotion of heritage in Ilijaš and its surroundings.
Hellersdorf (Berlin), Germany
station urbaner kulturen, the nGbK location in Hellersdorf was initiated by members who have been active on this late-GDR housing estate since 2014. Over time, it has become an exhibition and event space, and a place for artists and local residents to work together, with activities including forms of urban practice as well as open-air events and exhibitions on the nearby green land, known as Place Internationale. At this location, too, the nGbK as a decentralized institution explores new discursive approaches to artistic and curatorial practice. The nGbK work group station urbaner kulturen uses different art and culture projects to initiate and develop interventionist processes, social structures, and ways of thinking about the future of the neighborhood. The new Society for Fine Arts (nGbK) was founded in 1969 with a grassroots democratic structure, and is one of the most active art associations in Germany.
Drumul Taberei Bucharest, Romania
Represantives: Alex Axinte
Local organisation, host of the Network Lab 3 in Drumul Taberei, Bucharest. studioBASAR is both an architecture studio and a spatial practice for the production of public and community space founded in 2006 by Alex Axinte and Cristi Borcan in Bucharest, Romania. Through place-making, research by design, co-design, co-production and civic pedagogy, studioBASAR constructs intermediary formats which aims to enable users’ collaboration and participation for a more accessible and just city.
San Polo, Italy
Representatives: Valeria Battani
Non profit organisation, grass root theatre located in San Polo, active participant in the Network Labs. Since 2004, Teatro19 has its headquarters in San Polo, where are organized theatre productions and active workshops, establishing relations with numerous social and cultural groups in the area.The workshops include popular theatre training; the theatre productions deal with themes such as mental health, women of different generations, backgrounds and class. Teatro19 is also participating inthe project Oltre la strada, with the Municipality of Brescia.
Nowa Huta, Poland
Representatvies: Jarosław Klas, Justyna Dutka, Monika Kozioł, Jadwiga Bryś, Elżbieta Urbańska-Kłapa
The Norwid Culture Centre in Krakow is a municipal cultural institution with almost 70 years of heritage. The Centre conducts activities in the district of Nowa Huta and undertakes actions to its benefit. It focuses primarily on educational, artistic, sociocultural, heritage and pro-ecological projects, addressed to local communities of Kraków, and Nowa Huta district in particular. In order to nowadays challenges, C. K. Norwid Culture Centre actively participates in the processes of revitalization, helping to strengthen the social potential, as well as aiming to develop local communities on a partnership basis. We closely collaborate with institutions, organizations and other entities from the local communities. Actions of the institution include providing both substantive, and technical, support to local non-governmental organizations and informal groups. Within the structures of our Culture Centre falls Kino Studyjne Sfinks (Sfinks Cinema) - which produces Nowohucka Kronika Filmowa (Nowa Huta Newsreel), Nowohuckie Laboratorium Dziedzictwa (Nowa Huta Heritage Laboratory) with Pracownia Animacji Ekologicznej (Workshop of Ecological Animation) and Galeria Huta Sztuki (The Huta Sztuki Gallery), ARTzona with Pracownia Praktyk Rozwojowych (Workshop of Development Practice), Klub Kuźnia (Kuźnia Club) and two libraries.
Drumul Taberei Bucharest, Romania
Representatives: Ioana Tudora
University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest (USAMV) is the oldest and largest institution of higher agronomic education in Romania. USAMV provides BSc, MSc and PhD education and scientific research activities in the fundamental fields of "Engineering Sciences" and "Biological and biomedical sciences". Currently, the university consists of 7 faculties (Agriculture; Horticulture; Animal Productions Engineering and Management; Veterinary Medicine; Land Reclamation and Environmental Engineering; Biotechnologies; Management, Faculty of Management and Rural Development) and 2 branches (in Călărași and Slatina), comprising 12,000 enrolled students, and multidisciplinary research laboratories as well as a greenhouse, all designed to European standards, providing competitiveness both at national and international level. The Landscape Architecture program was established in 1998 in the frame of Horticulture Faculty, the teaching and research staff of the Landscape, Biodiversity and Ornamental Horticulture being focused on urban landscape and environment projects.
San Polo, Italy
Representatives: Jacopo Galli
Università Iuav di Venezia is one of the leading universities in Europe and across the world in the fields of architecture, design, fashion, visual arts, urban and regional planning, and theatre.
Established in 1926 as one of the first Architecture Schools in Italy, IAUV combines a renowned tradition with a firm commitment to permanent innovation while putting the design process at the core of the whole educational experience.
Expert, knowledge institute, working in San Polo, active participant in the Network Labs.
Visaginas, Lithuania
Representatives: Oksana Beliakova, Oksana Denisenko
Expert and grassroot organisation in Visaginas, active participant in the Network Labs. The core of the project ‘Urban Stories’ are the stories collected, formulated, and communicated in the context of underused public spaces in the city. They relate to various cultural contexts and use different artistic expressions and aesthetics. For the consortium partners, these experiences will be instructive and exemplary.
