Cultuur&Campus Putselaan Connecting with Community

On 16 September, as part of Creative Skills Week 2024, Cultuur&Campus Putselaan (C&CP) led a workshop at Dona Daria, Rotterdam titled 'Skills for Creative Ecosystems in Transition'. 

Cultuur&Campus Putselaan (C&CP) (of which ELIA is proud partner) is an initiative reimagining sustainable and inclusive urban development in Putselaan, a neighbourhood in Rotterdam South. Supported by the New European Bauhaus (NEB) initiative under the HORIZON Europe programme, C&CP serves as a pilot project that brings together local residents, entrepreneurs, institutions, and organisations including: Erasmus University Rotterdam, Gemeente Rotterdam, Willem de Kooning (WDKA), Codarts Rotterdam, ICLEI, Hogesschool Rotterdam, Buzinezzclub, ELIA, and the Afrikaanderwijk Cooperative. The goal of the project is to create a sustainable environment where research, education, and culture intersect. Although the C&CP building is still under renovation, the project is already operating from a temporary location, laying the groundwork for a space where creative and social initiatives can thrive.

A central question discussed, which is close to the heart of the project was: How can creative skills contribute to environmental sustainability? Workshop leaders, Janna Michael and Amanda Brandellero then invited participants coming from diverse fields and disciplines, ranging from performative arts to education, for a dialogue focused on the interdisciplinary skills required for the green transformation of urban areas. 

Janna and Amanda broached the topic of language and definitions hosting an engaging discussion on several terms, starting with the contested definition of sustainability — exploring its social, ecological, economic, and cultural dimensions. From there, the conversation shifted to the role of creative skills in supporting sustainable transitions. By connecting these skills to the broader goals of environmental sustainability, the workshop delved into how creative practices can drive meaningful change in cities like Rotterdam, where community, culture, and green initiatives must work hand in hand. 

The relationship between educational and cultural institutions and the urban fabric of Rotterdam South was also discussed from multiple angles. It was valuable to see both speakers and attendees confront the complexities of working within a diverse, economically and socially layered community. 

A key takeaway from the session was the recognition of power dynamics in community engagement. Janna and Amanda were candid about past efforts in Rotterdam that failed to integrate with the local neighbourhoods effectively, where those leading initiatives were disconnected from the realities of the people they hoped to serve and work with. This is precisely what C&CP aims to rectify. Through an approach rooted in mutual learning, C&CP is actively challenging these disconnections, with a clear commitment to creating a space where the community's voice is central.     

The workshop also brought forward the concept of “doing the unlearning”—the notion that institutions must critically assess their own methodologies and assumptions in order to effectively engage with communities. This means that institutions need to align their solutions with the lived realities of the local population.     

The ongoing work at C&CP stands as a testament to this philosophy. The vision is to build a hub that blends culture, ecology, society, and entrepreneurship, with a long-term goal of driving sustainable city-making. C&CP continues to set the stage for an inclusive and creative urban environment. As C&CP progresses, it remains grounded in the needs of the neighborhood, avoiding the pitfalls of previous initiatives through ongoing dialogue and critical reflection.      

In the coming year, C&CP will open its doors in its newly renovated space. C&CP will also present at this year’s ELIA Biennial Conference in Milan. For more information, check out  upcoming events at https://putselaan.nl/.