‘TRANS-MAKING: Art / culture / economy to democratize society. Research in placemaking for alternative narratives’ (January 2017 – June 2022) is a Horizon 2020 Marie Curie RISE research and innovation programme of international cross-sectoral secondments that will establish a multilateral network of staff working towards new strategies for social, economic and democratic renewal through culture. Within the framework of the project 30 research, cultural and arts organisations from Europe, Africa and the Americas come together to exchange knowledge and to design and experiment with novel initiatives that will contribute to greater societal well-being and democratisation of the society.

The specific objectives of TRANS-MAKING are:    

  • to investigate into and enhance place-making and place-based arts initiatives as spaces hosting alternative narratives for social, economic and democratic renewal
  • to foster connection between art and new technologies
  • to strengthen entrepreneurial skills of artists and creatives, and enhance their risk-taking and innovation capabilities
  • to contribute to education and empowerment of individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds through place-basted arts initiatives.

As part of the TRANS-MAKING project IGP organised a ‘Reclaim creativity! Arts in the Public Realm’ Summer Academy in London from 21-27 June 2017.

The Summer Academy brought academic and non-academic partners of TRANS-MAKING together with leading London’s arts organisations, cultural & creative SMEs, East London’s youth and UK students to: (i) share knowledge and experience of innovative approaches to arts in the public realm; (ii) promote and enable active involvement of local communities with place-based arts; and (iii) design, in a participatory way, and prototype new initiatives that will be jointly undertaken by TRANS-MAKING partners throughout the project.

These objectives will be pursued through a programme of activities comprising:

  • human-centred design training
  • experiential learning
  • site visits
  • knowledge and best practice exchange
  • programme of public events

Activities will be delivered by experts from the academia, local government, private and community sectors from London and across Europe. Together we will explore possibilities for effective and equal participation in Arts and culture, and innovate for social inclusion. Participants will be trained in human-centred design and will work in groups to design and prototype public space interventions.

To find out more, and to apply for this programme, click here.

Project Co-ordinator: Fabienne Trotte (Relais Culture Europe, Paris)

UCL Leader: Dr Konrad Miciukiewicz

Staff: Prof. Henrietta Moore, Dr Tuukka Toivonen and Hannah Sender

Sponsor: Horizon 2020 Marie Curie RISE (H2020-MSCA-RISE-2016)

Project duration: 1 January 2017 – June 2022