Fluctuations report
Co-Funded:
Creative Europe
Services:
Consultancy, Research, Advocacy
Links:
Year:
2023 - 2024
Partners:
Thomas Scheele (he/they) Lead Author; Senior Project Manager and Strategist at VibeLab
Ali Wagner (she/her) Research Assistant, Co-Author, Design
Sina Holst (she/her) Co-Author, Proofreader
Team:
Water plays a significant role in the urban landscapes of many European cities, often comprising around 5% of the urban surface. In some cities, like Amsterdam, this figure can rise to as muchas 35%. Thinking of bodies of water within our cities as accessible spaces for creatives is something that needs to be done when the space of the surface is becoming more and more distant for cultural uses.
VibeLab’s report for the Fluctuations Festival has assessed stakeholders, infrastructures, policies and governance relevant to staging a floating festival in multiple cities and countries across Europe and outline how creative river policies could look like when cities shape access to water for creative stakeholders.
The "Fluctuations" report is the first study of cultural practices on water that compares initiatives from several countries in Europe. The report was conducted in 5 countries, and 36 cultural vessels were researched. It includes 10 recommendations for accessing water as a creative space. Rivers can shape cities and drive creativity and culture when given the right frameworks within cities.
“One result of climate change is that extreme heat will continue to increase in Europe and citizens will seek out areas by the water to cool down and spend their free time. Instead of developing regulations that merely restrict, we should understand them as tools to shape, to incentivise good practice and to go with the times.”
— Nicolas Dhers, SMMMILE / Fluctuations CEO
