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<\/div><\/p>\nUSR considers field trips a crucial part of its curriculum. During these excursions, USR examined different structures and actors of the cultural field within the urban context. The aim is to take a constructive step towards defining possible mutually beneficial agendas between participants, with a view to developing concrete collaborations and co-productions in the local environment.<\/p>\n
The Class of 2016 has visited the following cities, projects and people:<\/p>\n
SPRING SESSION:<\/p>\n
PARIS<\/a> (FR) Download the programme (in German)<\/a><\/p>\n In Paris, the USR will meet with actors of the parisian cultural life engaged in urban processes both in the city center and in the \u00ab banlieues \u00bb. Through walks, workshop, visits, discussions and cooking sessions, the Class will gain insight on the long Parisian tradition of grassroots projects, spaces, and urban initiatives, as well as the current trend that tends to increaslingly include them into bigger scale urbanism plans.<\/p>\n Our partners in Paris are space le 6b<\/a> and Bellastock<\/a> in Saint Denis, R-Urban<\/a> in Colombes, la Ferme du Bonheur<\/a> in Nanterre, the project Les Grands Voisins<\/a>, Collectif la Main<\/a> in the 15th arrondissement, artist Stefan Shankland<\/a>, architect Merril Sin\u00e9us<\/a>, as well as key figures from Grand Paris (tba).<\/p>\n MARSEILLE<\/a>\u00a0(FR) In 2013 Marseille became the first European Capital of Culture to run a parallel, self-organised Off festival. Since then, many cultural initiatives have emerged out of the Capital of Culture\u2019s budget or associated resources. USR looks into the Quartiers Cr\u00e9atifs, an MP2013 project involving artists in residencies in developing urban areas. Meanwhile, ambitions for Marseille to become an economic and touristic hub in Europe have sparked new mechanisms of city-making. We look at how this interacts with the aforementioned cultural initiatives.<\/p>\n In Marseille, USR will take part in a workshop with Collectif Etc<\/a>, meet Marseille 3013<\/a>, the collective behind the Off Festival, walk the urban hiking trail created by Bureau des Guides<\/a>, hear stories from the founding members of Yes We Camp<\/a> and visit La Friche Belle de Mai<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n SUMMER SESSION:<\/p>\n ATHENS (GR) In response to the ongoing economic crisis, many self-initiated projects have flourished in Athens. These projects not only offer an alternative way to manage urban commons but sometimes even compensate for the absence of the state and the lack of certain basic services, like healthcare.<\/p>\n In Athens, USR will attend the Autonoma Conference<\/a> on urban autonomy and the collective city, be introduced to the Arbit City Group<\/a>, take an urban walk through Exarchia neighborhood and Navarinou park, converse with the Errands Group visit the Latraac skate park<\/a>, and meet with the local team of documenta 14<\/a> (tbc), as well as with members of the Athens Solidarity Clinic<\/a> (tbc) and Amalia Zepou, Vice Mayor for Civil Society and Municipality Decentralization and founder of Synathina<\/a> (tbc).<\/p>\n LIVERPOOL (UK) The \u201cMarket Renewal Plans\u201d in Liverpool have left neighbourhoods empty and decayed. Cultural institutions like the Liverpool Biennale and the 2008 European Capital of Culture, as well as initiatives by artists\/architects such as Assemble, have demonstrated an interest in this situation and the opportunities it provides.<\/p>\n We will bake bread with the Homebaked Community Land Trust<\/a>, set in an old bakery (tbc), get to know the people behind the Small Cinema<\/a>, an artist-led, volunteer run, not-for-profit screening space, visit the E&P Theaters<\/a> and encounter artists involved in the Biennale<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\n6th-9th May<\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.urbanschoolruhr.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/1.AAA-Agrocite\u0301-R-Urban-copy-1024x678.jpg\")
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\n17th-20th June<\/span>
\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.urbanschoolruhr.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/marseille-etc.jpg\")
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\nDownload the programme (in German)<\/a><\/p>\n
\n29th June \u2013 2nd July<\/span>
\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.urbanschoolruhr.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/4-flickr.lneprz-1024x661.jpg\")
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\n6th \u2013 9th September<\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.urbanschoolruhr.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/3-liverpool-flick-radarsmum67-1-1024x768.jpg\")
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