Events

ANNUAL CONGRESS V

The Layered City: City-Region-Neighbourhood

12 - 13 May 2010
Manchester

Following on the success of previous events in Copenhagen, Dublin, Sheffield and NewcastleGateshead, we invite you to join us in Manchester for the Academy’s Annual Congress V.

Held over 12 – 13 May 2010, with a follow-up action workshop on 14 May, the Congress brings together delegates from a wide variety of disciplines and locations to explore the relationships between city-regions and their constituent communities. We will address the complementary themes of strategic partnership and alliance at a conurbation scale, and the significance of liveable neighbourhoods and community identity at a more localised, grassroots level – Learning from Place at different scales.

The event begins with an introduction to Manchester overlooking the Piccadilly Canal Basin at BDP’s new offices. Delegates will then embark on one of two study tours, including a bus trip on board an old Routemaster, taking in the changing neighbourhoods and centres of adjoining areas. The day will come to a fitting close with a Civic Reception hosted by the City Council at the magnificent 19th century gothic Manchester Town Hall.

The main Congress programme, located at the Bridgewater Hall, will feature contributions from a range of leading speakers telling their own diverse stories. The Academy will also lead a variety of interactive workshops, each with engaging speakers, building on the Academy’s principle of
‘Learning from Place’.

On the evening of 13 May, The Finalists for
The Urbanism Awards 2011 will be announced at the Congress Dinner, held in the wonderful setting of the Gorton Monastery, an architectural masterpiece by Pugin, currently in the process of restoration by a charitable trust. Our featured presenter is famed northwest poet Lemm Sissay MBE, and we encourage you to bring along guests to what I am sure will be a memorable occasion.

On the Friday morning at CUBE, the Centre for the Urban Built Environment, there will be a ‘Post Congress Action Workshop’, with the aim of consolidating our experience so far and exploring ideas to take forward our learning initiatives, UniverCities and City X-Rays, along with the potential creation of a European learning network.

We very much hope you will be able to join us for what promises to be a highly varied and stimulating event. If you have never visited Manchester, now is the time to do it. For those who think they know it all already – we are sure you will gain new insights into urbanism and meet friends - old and new alike.