*apologies for cross-posting*
A quick reminder that the deadline for applications is Tuesday June 15th 2014.
3rd European Colloquium on Culture, Creativity and Economy
Amsterdam, October 9-10, 2014
Department of Social and Economic Geography, Uppsala University, Sweden
In Collaboration With:
Geographies of Globalizations, Centre for Urban Studies,
University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Context
During the past decades myriad links between culture, creativity and economic practice have become major topics of interdisciplinary debates. There is a growing consensus that theintersections between these spheres, and symbolic and culturally embedded values in particular, pervade the global economy. This is no longer restricted to a few sectors, rather theformerly distinct logics of the cultural and the economic have become increasingly indiscernible. Similarly, the notion of creativity, once used to express exceptional talent, activities andoutcomes, is now considered a key component to success in all fields of economic activity. Moreover, creativity is not confined to networks of creative artists and entrepreneurs but is also supported by craft workers in different institutional and geographical settings. At the same time, the Internet has revolutionized the conditions under which cultural production anddistribution as well as creative collaboration can be undertaken. Despite the high degree of uncertainty about future developments, policy makers as well as business managers are highly optimistic, if not enthusiastic, about the ability of symbolic values and creativity to drive sustained economic growth and regional development.
Purpose
The Third European Colloquium on Culture, Creativity and Economy (CCE3), which will take place in Amsterdam from October 9-10th, will take up and continue an international andinterdisciplinary debate on these topics. This debate was originally initiated during a workshop in Padua in 2011 and subsequently given an institutional character as a European Network ofExcellence during European Colloquiums on Culture, Creativity and Economy in Uppsala in 2012 (CCE1) and Berlin 2013 (CCE2). The aim is to continue the debate while consolidating theemergent research network through follow-up events. Above all, however, the colloquium aims to bring scholars together in an exciting, intense and dynamic meeting aimed at generatingnot only new networks but new knowledge, approaches and practices. The event will give participants the chance to share ideas, receive feedback on current research and to previewcutting edge research in the field. In other words, beyond simply constructing networks, the Colloquium will create a dynamic and sustainable discursive space.
The Organizers
Local Conference Organizers: Amsterdam
Barbara Heebels (University of Amsterdam)
Robert Kloosterman (University of Amsterdam)
Colloquium Series Organizers: Uppsala
Taylor Brydges (Uppsala University)
Brian J. Hracs (Uppsala University)
Johan Jansson (Uppsala University)
Cecilia Pasquinelli (Uppsala University)
Dominic Power (Uppsala University)
Jenny Sjöholm (Uppsala University)
Institutional Partners
The institution hosting the Conference Series is the Geographies of Globalizations programme and the Department of Human Geography, planning and development studies at the University of Amsterdam. The university has a long history of knowledge accumulation, originating from the Atheneum Illustre school in philosophy and trade in 1632. It is now one of the largest universities in Europe with 30, 000 students and 5, 000 staff. The conference is co-sponsored by the Centre of Urban Studies of the University of Amsterdam, a multidisciplinary research centre bringing together urban scholars in sociology, geography, planning, political science, economics, development studies and other disciplines.
The Program
The colloquium will run from 9:00 a.m. on Thursday October 9th to 4:30 p.m. on Friday October 10th and will consist of the following activities.
Themed Panels
These will not be normal presentation sessions. Every panel will be themed by the organizers based on the interest statements submitted before the Colloquium. Each panelist will have 5 minutes to talk about their research in relation to the theme (no powerpoint). The panelists will then be given time to respond to each other before the floor is opened to the whole group for questions and comments.
One-On-One Discussant Blocks
Each participant will have submitted a paper for review before the Colloquium and two people will be given the paper to read in advance. In each of the Discussant Blocks, you will meet with an assigned partner to discuss each other’s work (20 minutes on their paper, 20 minutes on yours) and brainstorm future collaborations. Thus, each person attending will be responsible for reviewing two papers in advance and will get two one-on-one feedback sessions from their peers.
Walking Tour
For a change of pace, participants with ‘local knowledge’ will lead small groups on a tour around the venue and former Shell premises which host a diverse range of cultural and other activities. The tour will also include a ferry ride to the NDSM dock which is a former shipyard turned into a creative hotspot or ‘self-made city’. This dock hosts various creative events, artists, and media-related businesses, including global firms such as MTV/Viacom Northern Europe and Discovery Networks.
Feedback Session
The entire group will reflect on the key findings and questions from the colloquium. The session will provide an opportunity to announce any ideas or plans for future projects and to seek out collaborators for conferences, conference sessions, edited books and special issues of journals.
Optional Amsterdam Tour
On Saturday October 11th we will be organizing an optional tour to Amsterdam-West. The tour will include a visit the Westergasfabriek, a former gas factory and its surrounding premises which have been transformed into a location for cultural entrepreneurs, a festival location and a city park. In addition, we will visit a fine example of Amsterdam School architecture: het schip (the ship). Spurred by new housing acts and demand for affordable housing at the beginning of the 20th century, this area was designed to house the working class in the Spaandammer neighbourhood and was a harbinger of social housing in the Netherlands.
People
The colloquium will feature up to 30 post-doctoral fellows, research fellows and faculty members from a range of disciplines and institutions (in Europe and beyond) who share a common interest in culture and creativity.
Costs
There is no registration fee and the Colloquium sponsors will provide the following for all participants:
- Coffee and snacks on Thursday and Friday
- Lunch on Thursday and Friday
- Dinner on Thursday
Application Process and Deadlines
Applying
The conference organizers will select up to 30 individuals to attend. To be considered you must send the following to Brian J. Hracs at ([log in to unmask]) by Tuesday June 15th 2014. Late applications will not be considered. - a short bio (max 200 words) as a word document
- a personal photo of sufficient quality to be included in the program
- a maximum one page statement (as a word document) of current interests or what you consider the most important research issue to address in the coming years.
Once Accepted
By September 15th 2014 you must send the following to Brian J. Hracs at ([log in to unmask]) - a paper for review and discussion: the choice of your contribution is open - it could be your latest published paper, a draft paper you are working on, a grant proposal, or a short outline of an idea that is currently developing.
Program
Once the participants are confirmed and the materials are collected the program (including discussant pairings and panel themes) will be finalized and distributed.
More Information
Venue
The event will be held in the Tolhuistuin complex in Amsterdam. The venue is part of the former premises of the Royal Dutch Shell Research Facilities across the IJ river and next to the Eye Film Museum (opposite from Amsterdam central station). This ‘other side’ of the IJ river used to be a somewhat neglected part of the city as Amsterdam in effect stood with its backside to the waterfront. In recent years, Amsterdam-Noord has become a hot spot for cultural industries as relatively large former industrial spaces -including shipyards- were made available for new economic activities. Fashionable cafés and third spaces have emerged in the neighbourhood catering to new visitors and workers in the cultural industries who have largely replaced the workforce of yesteryear. Old spaces and buildings have been transformed to suit new uses. Instead of abiding the modernist dictum of form follows function, there are many examples of new creative uses of existing spaces and of spaces apparently waiting for new functions. The Tolhuistuin complex is a good example of both. Moreover, the former Shell premises are home to a large 3D-printing facility designed to print a canal house and possibly a harbinger of new industrial revolution (see http://3dprintcanalhouse.com/). ** The Tolhuistuin complex can be reached by ferry located at the IJ exit of the Amsterdam Central Station.
Accommodations (some suggestions)
- Rho hotel, Nes 5-23, Amsterdam Centrum, 1012 KC Amsterdam
- Hotel residence Le Coin, Nieuwe Doelenstraat 5, Amsterdam Centrum, 1012 CP Amsterdam
- Hotel Clemens, Raadhuisstraat 39-2HG, Amsterdam Centrum, 1016 DC Amsterdam
- Hotel Luxer, Warmoesstraat 11, Amsterdam Centrum, 1012 HT Amsterdam
Questions