Good Market: the street Festival connecting Communities

When we talk about changing cities, how much do the desires and needs of citizens matter? What are the best strategies to activate local communities? Every year, Utopian Hours gives a platform to organizations that seek to bring people back to the center of the urban transformation debate. Participatory processes, community engagement, and bottom-up initiatives are key themes to update our approach to city-making.

This is the focus of Punkt, an independent collective based in Bratislava that promotes research on design, architecture, and urban planning. One of their most renowned projects is Dobry trh —also known as the Good Market— the biggest street festival in the city: a moment of sharing created to support local producers, provide opportunities for cultural exchange, and create new spaces for creativity.

Public space and the potential of a cohesive community will be the focus of Illah van Oijen‘s presentation—photographer, cultural animator, and Creative Director of Punkt.