Background

The fourth in the series of Future City Games ‘With and for Praga’ played in cooperation with the authorities of Praga Północ district took place on September 15, 2010 at Miotła club.

Objectives

The streets, courtyards and old tenement houses of Praga are a magnet for representatives of the creative sector. From one side - post-industrial buildings, old tenement houses - an atmosphere of streets filled with people; on the other - the possibility of quite cheap studios or offices. Praga also has a superb location close to the city centre. The popularity of the district among representatives of the creative sector lasted since the end of the 90s. The clubs, galleries and studios present here for a long time influence its current attractiveness.

During the fourth Future City Game, the participants sought answers to the following questions: how to combine the development of the creative sector in Praga with the creative development of district’s space? How can residents, clerks, activists, artists and entrepreneurs cooperate within this process? Which particular places of Praga have the power to stimulate the district’s development? Where to seek common ground for the local community’s cooperation? How to make better use of commercial premises, giving easier access to people willing to rent them to work, organise meetings, create, act? Which particular places in Praga have the potential to become lively public spaces?

Winning idea

Multi-dimensional strategy to improve communication
The mapping of what's going on in Praga could be supported by a special-purpose internet portal, an element of which would be using googlemaps – a simple tool allowing the three-dimensional display of data. The portal would also serve as a tool for clear and legible communication, using a cealr and simple language. It would be a database of information on contests and tenders important for the creative sector, and on the expectations of the local community regarding the nascent Centre for Supporting Creativity.

The local flow of information could improved by using non-standard tools such as city games involving local officials and decision makers, which would help them get to know the district better and allow the local community to become acquainted with their decision makers. The portal would promote openness and information sharing, especially in the meeting places of various social groups, using information boards, posters or a newsletter. Another important element would be social consultations and non-standard information events, e.g. happenings, installations, etc. The information flow between the district and entrepreneurs should also be improved – these two should support one another.

Winning ideas from the other teams

Creative map of Praga
This idea addresses the need to map what's happening in Praga and provide residents, tourists and representatives of the creative sector with the information in a transparent way. It is based on creating a coherent system of visual identification of important places on the map of Praga, marking them on 'leaflet maps' and 'post-bill maps' connected with guide posts. The map would include socio-cultural spots, but also places where creative entrepreneurs work. All maps would be located in strategic places in the district.

artklaster.pl reloaded
The idea responds to the need to improve communication and is based on the existing communication channels artklaster.pl (an internet portal  - created thanks to funding from the City of Warsaw  - which refers to the creative sector and its presence in Warsaw). In order to make it a really interesting website, it is necessary to add a supplement - a map of activities by creative sector in Warsaw.

The map should contain information on and for the creative sector, allow networking its representatives and people interested in the services offered by this sector. The portal should also have its own team of editors constantly working on updating all the information. The activities of the portal would also include meetings and discussions on the business sector and its development in Warsaw.

Creative Centre for Communication
Another idea for establishing a centre for cooperation of various social partners. Bringing the centre into existence would require study visits to other countries and cities that already run such centres, in order to observe various model of activities. The task of the centre would be, among other things, to support social dialogue. The centre would offer interdisciplinary consultations by local activists and aim its activities at creative business - galleries, small enterprises; local community – community housing, local activists; the third sector and local administration. It would also be responsible for promoting Praga and spreading information about it outside the district.

The centre would also administer its own web portal for entities willing to present their activities. This exchange of information would be a base for creating partnerships and joint action.