20 September 2012, Groningen, The Netherlands

On 20 September 2012, the Municipality of Groningen organized the final conference of the European project entitled Creative City Challenge (CCC).

With our partners from the North Sea region – Hamburg, Bremen, Oldenburg, Kortrijk, Høje-Taastrup, Göteborg, Dundee, Newcastle and Delft – much work has been carried out in developing and exchanging knowledge and experience in the field of creative knowledge clusters, hotspots, etc.

The conference was held in the rising creative urban area of Groningen: the Ebbingekwartier (Ebbinge Quarter). There, the grounds of the former Gas Factory have been given a temporary layout and access routes. The 'Open Lab Ebbinge', which is a component of this creative zone, functions as a new breeding ground for the creative economy and forms a practical laboratory for new types of interim architecture, urban planning and new environments for creative entrepreneurship and the mingling of ideas. A living lab for open innovation.

For further information: http://g3c.nl/en/ccc-english

 Programme: Creating Space - CCC Final Conference 2012

Moderator: Tracy Metz

Tracy Metz, American by origin, is a journalist and author on urban and spatial issues. She writes for the quality Dutch daily NRC Handelsblad and is an international correspondent for Architectural Record.

Opening and Welcome

Alderman Mr. Frank de Vries is responsible for Urban Development and Housing in Groningen. He is a member of the EU Committee of the Regions (COR). MPE Ms. Marietje Schaake put forward a message on the European Agenda 2020: Creative Europe. Ms. Schaake is a member of the Cultural Committee of the European Parliament.

Creative City Challenge: success story of a North Sea Region project

Prof. Walter Leal has been leading the Research & Transfer Centre "Applications of Life Sciences" at the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences. He is the coordinator of the Interreg IVB NSR project CCC. Watch his video message.

Keynote speaker Victor van der Chijs

Mr. Victor van der Chijs is Managing Partner at OMA, globally operating architects. He is the industry leader who heads the 'top team' Creative Industries, charged with exploring ways of stimulating innovation and entrepreneurship in the Netherlands. Mr. Van der Chijs is also chairman of the independent strategic Dutch Creative Industries Council.

Creative City Challenge Roadmovie

The CCC Roadmovie highlighted the new economic assets of the CCC-partner cities/regions and displays different examples.

Best Collaboration Award Ceremony

The 2012 award is dedicated to best collaborations between Creative Industries and the public sector. Five awards were handed out by Ms. Sine Sørensen and Mr. Carsten Westerholt, North Sea Region Programme Secretariat.  Presentations of the BCA 2012 winners

The CCC project aimed to build and implement an innovation and creativity strategy - now presented in the book "Creative City Challenge - Highlights and Best Practices".

Lunch Beat

Europe's latest dance craze! Re-energize with DJ E-1000, Emilio Brandão, the Portugese lunchbeating architect from Sweden..

Temporary Use of Space: showcase Groningen

Alderman Frank de Vries talked about Groningen examples of temporary uses of space as in the practices of Open Lab Ebbinge, EU Regiostars Awards finalist 2012, and about future plans for Suikerunie (former sugarfactory site).

Film Open Lab Ebbinge

Temporary use, what does the future hold? DEBATE

Temp.architecture showed possibilities to break out of the current impasse utilizing vacant buildings and undeveloped plots, also suitable for creative industries.  TIME BASED INTERVENTIONS (6.75 MB)

Opening exhibition Creating Space

The exhibition on temporary use of space made by temp.architecture was opened with an introduction by Prof. René Boomkens, full professor social and cultural philosophy.  CURATING THE TEMPORARY CITY
The exhibition briefly explains the crisis in urban planning, shows success factors and strategies for flexible regional development, elaborates upon specific locations by means of case studies, and looks ahead to the future.  Opening exhibition Creating Space (10.28 MB)