EU project "ReNewTown" presented outcomes at its final conference in Ljubljana in February 2014 [13.03.2014]

A center for cultural events, a museum of everyday culture, an open-air venue for all generations and an advisory center for start-up entrepreneurs – these are all examples for the outcomes of "ReNewTown". The aim of the EU project, in which ITAS participated, was the revitalization of towns in Central and Eastern Europe. The final conference was held on February 11/12 2014 in the Slovenian town of Ljubljana. Apart from the four pilot projects in Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia and the Czech Republic, the project produced publications with recommendations for e.g. city planners, representatives from municipalities, NGOs and citizens. A database with examples of different revitalization projects is also available.

The problems that towns and districts in former socialist countries often have to face include – depending on the regional situation – bad conditions of houses and public spaces or a lack of facilities for social and cultural events. This is often accompanied by unemployment and non-existing business opportunities. Experts from different disciplines from Germany, Poland, Slovenia, the Czech Republic and Slovakia work together in the "ReNewTown" project to develop solutions to improve the quality of life in Central and Eastern European towns. The Institute for Technology Assessment and Systems Analysis (ITAS) was one of the scientific partners. "The ReNewTown project was mainly about strengthening peoples’ identification with their living environment and assigning new functions to unused buildings from the socialist era", explains Christina Götz, a member of ITAS. The aims were to develop social and cultural offers, improve the design of public spaces between building blocks and support start-up entrepreneurs. "However, not only towns in former socialist countries profit from the results", says the sociologist. "Also other cities face similar challenges, for example regarding neglected public spaces or the lack of cultural events. They can also profit from the outcomes of ReNewTown."

Among others, "ReNewTown" has issued two publications and a database. The "Handbook of Models" addresses city planners, representatives from municipalities and politicians. It presents numerous regeneration projects in urban areas from the viewpoint of people involved. The publication "ENGAGE! Brighter Future in Your Hands" conveys inspiration, practical advice and the experience gained in "ReNewTown" to citizens and NGOs who plan projects in their own district. Further examples can be called up in a database which currently comprises the descriptions of 148 projects from 69 towns in 13 countries.

The "ReNewTown" project closed with the conference "Renewed Post-Socialist City – Competitive and Attractive" on February 11 and 12, 2014 in the Slovenian capital Ljubljana. The conference addressed scientists, city planners and decision-makers in urban contexts. The project "ReNewTown" was carried out in the "CENTRAL EUROPE Programme" of the EU and was co-financed by the "European Regional Development Fund" (ERDF).

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