Felix Wiegand

The upgrading of formerly alternative districts and the spread of flashy high-rise façades, luxury boutiques and exclusive owner-occupied apartments in the inner cities; extensive urbanisation in the newly industrialised countries; empty or half-finished abandoned buildings symbolising burst property bubbles in the “crisis countries” of Europe; the revival of urban social movements and the spread of the “occupy movement” from Cairo and Madrid through New York to Istanbul and Rio de Janeiro – many diverse processes have in recent times reminded us that general social developments and conflicts in cities are coming into focus as in a burningglass. Against this background, the lecture aims to provide a survey of current trends, challenges and areas of conflict within urban developments, also asking about the change in the role of artists and culture producers.

The lecture will be followed by a panel discussion with Elsa Prochazka, Sarah Untner and Felix Wiegand.