The GoDown Art Center, Museum of Architecture, Culture Center in Stockholm and Mimeta share visions for cities where culture is in the core of development. This project has received support from the Swedish Postcode Lottery. Cities shape culture and culture shape cities, thus participation of inhabitants become essential in shaping vision or plans. Ultimately this is a democracy issue.
Urbanization is one of the major themes in global development. In 2050, about 70 % of world population will live in cities, almost twice as many as today. This project will create possibilities to influence and share visions for cities where culture is in the core of development
The cities, Nairobi and Stockholm, are at first glance completely different but when looking closer face challenges that are similar for most cities in the world. Both have a vision to become cities of world class, face growth challenges, and aim to be socially sustainable. The rapid growth comes from migration to cities, thus results in blurry identities in relation to “my home” and “where I live”. How can culture sector make a difference?
Questions such as these are being explored, where artists and civil society in Nairobi and Stockholm are invited into the conversations with city officials, planning authorities and urban development expertise. A selection of artists will be engaged in second half of 2012 along with other stakeholders and interested parties to participate in forthcoming exhibitions, artistic expressions and seminars.
This project, Nairobi-Stockholm: City Evolution and Identity, consist thus of exhibitions, artistic expressions and seminars that will be the formats to enable conversations on the scope of the culture sector in urban planning, transformation of industrial areas, values from cultural and social meeting places, and presentation of visions and possibilities towards social cohesive, safe and attractive cities. Cities shape culture and culture shape cities, thus participation of inhabitants become essential in shaping vision or planned. Ultimately this is a democracy issue.
The project is a partnership between the GoDown Arts Centre in Kenya, the museum of Architecture in Sweden, the Culture Centre of Stockholm and Mimeta – centre for Culture and Development, who jointly conducted a pre-study in 2011, with White Architects and with support from Swedish Institute. Together, the partners will explore the theme and invite Kenyan and Swedish artists, architects and experts to participate in the project. The exhibition will open in Nairobi spring 2013 and in Stockholm fall 2013. Both exhibitions will base on the joint vision and add local perspectives for each city.
The project is funded partly through each partner’s core funding. In addition, a grant has been given by the Postcode Lottery to enhance the exhibition, programming and seminars. The project is also encouraged by the Kenyan Embassy in Stockholm and the Embassy of Sweden in Nairobi who are engaged in an advisory capacity.
For further information contact:
Mimeta; Pratik Vithlani; +46 708 628 008
GoDown; Joy Mboya; +254 733 720 228
