Flagship Events in 2012
II. Two events on the theme of ‘Mega-Events’ were part of the Centre’s three-year Regional Studies Association Research Network grant award
- Mega-Events: From Eventful Cities to Regional Development
CUES Director Graeme Evans chaired and convened a panel at the American Association of Geographers annual conference in New York (24-28 February 2012). Presenters from the USA, Chin and Germany contributed to a lively session that was attended by over 30 international academics and research students. - Mega-Event Evaluation and Measuring Impacts
On 25 June 2012, the Research Network on Mega-Events held a workshop at the Cities Institute in London. It considered mega-event-led regeneration within regional studies in terms of impact and evaluation methods and approaches and notions of legacy from mega-event-led regeneration. The workshop formed part of the London Festival Architecture programme (‘Playful City’) and took place a month before the opening of the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Graeme Evans was one of the keynote speakers and was also one of the event’s conveners, with Dr Philip Lawton (CUES), Dr Lauren Andres (Centre for Urban & Regional Studies, University of Birmingham) and Dr Bas Van Heur (ex-UM, Cosmopolis, Free University Brussels).
II. Via2018 – European Capital of Culture
A prime aspect of the centre’s work since its inception has been its collaboration with the city (gemeente) and the Province of Limburg on their European Capital of Culture 2018 bid through the Via2018 office. The regional bid has a highly boosterish approach including major investment in urban infrastructure and is also unique in presenting a transborder collaboration across cultural and political dimensions. The CUES research team has undertaken several background studies and strategy reports to support the formulation of the submission to the Dutch government and European Commission. This has included developing the core themes as well as in-depth studies of the regional knowledge economy, its industrial/post-industrial evolution, and the role of students/higher education in regional development. The evaluation of the initiative (a requirement of the ECOC) was developed by CUES staff, resulting in the production of the evaluation section of the approved Bid Book. This research-informed and reflexive approach contributed to the Maastricht-led bid reaching the final shortlist of three (with Eindhoven/Brabantstad and Leewaurden) from which a final selection will be made in September 2013. If successful, CUES will lead the academic evaluation programme in the pre-event, event and post-event phases.
The centre also collaborates with post-graduate students (particularly in the MA Arts & Heritage Policy & Management programme) who undertake electives on the ‘Creative City’ initiative led by Dr Philip Lawton. This includes guest lectures from City Cultural and Via2018 officers and student assessments and dissertations on aspects of the ECOC programme and the Maastricht regional bid. Students also undertake placements in cultural organisations and projects such as Manifesta, Genk.
An ongoing research association with the Council of Europe Directorate of Culture Heritage & Diversity has also resulted in commissioned research studies in their Cultural Routes and Intercultural Cities programmes. This led to two studies on the contemporary Hansa League and, most recently, a study of ‘Intercultural Public Spaces’ with case studies in Rotterdam, London and Zurich (see publications below).
The centre also collaborates with local arts and cultural academics and creatives, for example contributing to the two-day international symposium Experimental Crossings: interdisciplinarity in arts practice (www.experimentalcrossings.nl) held on 12-13 March 2012. This joint symposium (UM, Zuyd Academies) was co-convened by Peter Peters with presentations by Graeme Evans and Philip Lawton. CUES researchers have also presented their work at international conferences; in 2012, this included invited keynotes and panels in Dublin, Vienna, Zurich and London.