This is Public... Space

Who owns public space? How can we best engage with it? And how should it be shaped for the future?

Public space is more than just somewhere to sit or wander through – it is an invaluable resource for connection, learning, entertainment, protest, commemoration and celebration. It is a place where community comes together. But as Melbourne transforms, so too should the way we define and use these spaces.

From landmark projects like the Melbourne Arts Precinct Transformation Project to grassroots urban interventions and our footpaths and plazas, an expert panel will explore how these dynamic constants can foster everything from democracy, social inclusion to climate resilience.

Moderated by Walkley award-winning journalist Dr Jeff Sparrow, join Associate Director at OCULUS, Claire Martin; Director and CEO of Melbourne Arts Precinct Corporation, Katrina Sedgwick OAM; Chair of Architecture and Urban Design at the University of Melbourne, Dr Kim Dovey; and Associate at Jackson Clements Burrows Architects, Sarah Lynn Rees, as they challenge conventional thinking on what makes a space truly public.

This is Public… Space is presented by City of Melbourne in partnership with program curators Open House Melbourne and event partner Fed Square.