URBACT City Festival Tallinn 3-5 October 2017

The Festival introduces top edge content on urban development, create links with the urban agendas in Europe around the globe.

 

In 2017 the Festival will also be the opportunity to learn more from the selected URBACT Good Practices and about the Transfer Network Call, which will at the time be open for proposals. 

 

The URBACT City Festival is based on the idea of co-creation, capacity building and peer learning and offers a programmes based on interactive, challenging and inspirational sessions.

 

Video: URBACT City Festival 2015 video

 

 

 

After Riga in 2015, URBACT City Festival will move to one of the others Baltic Capitals of Europe: Tallinn. It will be a great chance to discover one of the most exciting creative quarters in Europe: Telliskivi. 

 

Photo: Telliskivi Creative City

 

Telliskivi Creative City is located in an old industrial territory, in the neighbourhood of Kalamaja (a subdistrict of Põhja-Tallinn). The first industrial buildings on Telliskivi street were constructed in 1869 when the Baltic Railway factories were founded. Industrial growth soon encouraged speedy development throughout the neighbourhood. Telliskivi Creative City was established more than 200 years later, in 2009. It has now evolved to be the largest hub for the creative economy in Estonia.

 

Photo: Telliskivi Creative City

 

The neighbourhood spans 25 000 m2 and consists of 10 buildings, across the railway tracks from the Old Town. 

 

The neighbourhood presents itself as an independent business hub, completely based on private ownership, where the tenants are fully responsible for the design of their spaces. Currently there are over 200 businesses, companies and NGOs operating on the premises. 

 

It is as well a leisure destination: besides offices you find there ateliers, studios, workshops, rehearsal spaces, shops and clubs, the territory contains a bike shop, bread factory, print shop, concert hall, theatre stage, several cafes, galleries, bars and restaurants. We also accommodate a nursery, massage salon and a yoga studio.

 

 

 

The main venue of URBACT City Festival will be the Vaba Lava (Open Space) Theatre Centre. 

 

Photo: Vaba Laba, Photo by Aron Urb

 

Vaba Lava is housed in a former metal workshop, which was transformed into a simple and elegant steel, glass, and concrete venue by the architects from the architectural firm Allianss Arhitektid OÜ. 

 

The foundation Vaba Lava was established in May 2010 with two aims: firstly to provide opportunities for both established and emerging independent companies in Estonia and secondly to promote international cooperation organizing joint projects, co-productions, workshops, and seminars.

 

Vaba Laba was born from a public - private partnership. It is one of the first example of PPP in Estonia for a cultural venue. The Estonian Ministry of Culture provides activities’ support and covers 70% of the rent of the venue, whereas the foundation Cultural Endowment of Estonia finances the Curatored Programme each year.

 

Enough to convince you to put up the date in your agenda as busy?  Here you are: book the 4-5th of October 2017 for the exciting URBACT City Festival currently being programmed for you!

 

Need a bit more convincing? Check out the photos from URBACT City Festival 2015 in Riga and you’ll sure be convinced to come, learn and exchange with us in October in Tallinn.