English Information
urbanize! 2024
»ENERGY! Power to the People«
urbanize! 2024 explores the possibilities of an environmentally and socially just energy transition and its potential to democratise energy production and use. Tackling the mammoth task of energy transition in urban areas will require innovative technical solutions, systemic change and an energetic urban society that takes control of its own future. With around 40 events over 6 days, urbanize! invites interested city dwellers to emPOWERment with experts, activists, artists, administrators and politicians – free of charge.
Energy is a key buzzword for the future of our planet: Where it comes from, how it is generated, used (or wasted) will determine the future development of the Earth. To create a liveable future for ourselves and future generations, we need to restructure our energy systems sustainably. This transformation is already underway in many places in Vienna: Anergy networks for the sustainable supply of heat to entire neighbourhoods, deep geothermal probes or solar power communities are just some of the climate-friendly solutions for phasing out oil and gas. However, the necessary technological change also offers opportunities for democratising the energy supply and thus for a more socially just energy system, keyword: energy democracy. To seize these opportunities for a sustainable and democratic energy future, we need an energetic urban society that gets involved and postulates its demands for more participation and co-determination.
urbanize! 2024 presents innovative technical and social solutions and invites people to discuss the status quo and future of the urban energy transition. The festival focuses on the democratic and emancipatory as well as the economic and political aspects of the issue: energy democracy, supply justice, energy communities and positive energy districts, governance processes and active participation are at the centre of attention. With city walks, site visits, artistic interventions, films, workshops, network meetings, lectures, talks and discussions, urbanize! explores the opportunities and pitfalls of the energy transition. The aim is to empower urban society and engage citizens in a socially just and climate-friendly transformation of the city.
Power to the People!
Click here for the programme (mostly in german)
Overview of events and activities in English
8–11 OCT 2024
Wie wir (nicht) leben: Exhibition of photo and film projects for a more just and equitable city
9–11 OCT 2024
Radio Industry Live: Radio Industry is coming to Vienna together with the Berlin project Kiosk of Solidarity. The talk ‘Transmitter im Dritten’ takes place every evening from 6-7pm. Drop by and tune in!
10 OCT 2024
School of Walking: Lobau oder Umbau: The School of Walking sheds light on the investments of citizens, democratic questions and questions of the law. The artists Bik Van der Pol (NL) invite experts in these fields to lead a walk to a site that speaks back to these urgencies, taking into account promises imbedded in the language.
registration required
Space of Waste: Exploring Viennese Müllräume and our perception of waste management
11 OCT 2024
School of Walking: Freie Mitte, wilder Lebensraum
registration required
Keep the Balance Open Air: (Residential) street culture with the initiative space and place
City Romantics: Find out which initiative makes your heart beat faster! City Romantics rolls out the red carpet for all people and initiatives who want to present their ideas for Vienna.
Party! Urban Powerhouse: Accompanied by DJ:anes and the band FLIRTMACHINE, we will gather energy for the transformation of the city: Friday night at the urbanize! festival as a power station for future actions!
12 OCT 2024
School of Walking: Alsergrounded
registration required
Radio Industry Live @ Nordwestbahnhof: Drop by and tune in!
Fahrradkino – Cycle Cinema Club @ Nordwestbahnhof: Five short films take you on a cinematic journey through energy and utopia – powered by the pedalling audience.
13 OCT 2024
A road not taken (Christina Hemauer und Roman Keller, CH 2010 | 66 min | OV (en) with german subtitles): In 1979, US President Jimmy Carter installed solar panels on the roof of the White House, declaring the solar age. His successor, Ronald Reagan, had the panels removed - a radical departure from Carter's energy programme. Thirty years later, filmmakers Christina Hemauer and Roman Keller take the two solar panels on a journey through their history, down a path that was never taken. Tickets
School of Walking: Zukunft für Zukunftshof
registration required
Wien kocht über!: using self-built solar cookers to take over public spaces by cooking together
Mach Meter für den Westbahnpark: »Energie-Corso« with the activists of Westbahpark
Radio Industry Live @ Westbahnpark: Drop by and tune in!
ABOUT
urbanize! Int. Festival for Urban Explorations« has been organised by »dérive - Society for Critical Urban Research« in Vienna, Berlin (2018) and Hamburg (2016) since 2010. The independent association is also editor of the quarterly journal dérive, which has been published since the year 2000 as an independent platform of discussion for critical urban research and urban activism. Furthermore dérive also regularly produces the podcast »Radio dérive«, which is dealing with questions of urbanity on different scales and is licenced as creative commons.
derive.at
