Partners look to their markets project legacy

As URBACT Markets enters its completion phase partners are focusing their attention on their legacy and the sort of document they want to create to spread knowledge about their project to policy makers and other markets officials both at home and abroad. Last July 17-18 partners met in London for a study visit and to finalise their local action plan (LAP) document format and especially to see first-hand some of London’s markets projects. The event, organised by local partner Cross River Partnership, included visits to Borough market, Camden Lock Market and Spitfields.One of the outcomes of the meeting was that partners decided to create LAPs with a common format that would be available in English and their own language to help spread know-how. Partners also sketched out what they wanted their final output document to look like.Importantly, another EU markets initiative called CENTRAL MARKETS was also invited to the London event to explain their experiences and to showcase projects.Also during the meeting, Sally Kneeshaw, URBACT Thematic Pole consultant and an expert in sustainability and innovation processes, presented her vision of the relevance of markets for urban development and cities.Partners also penned in future important dates with a new study visit set for Torino in October, National Seminars in the autumn and the highlight of this last stage of the URBACT project, a final project meeting coinciding with the 9th International Public Markets Conference next March 24-26 in Barcelona. The London meeting also highlighted the importance of continuing the International Week of Markets, which was successfully held last May. Provisionally next year’s event will run from May 15-31.  Partners want to raise the profile of next year’s event especially at the EU level.