Under the slogan STOCZNIA OD NOWA, a group of independent artists and cultural activists working together in Gdańsk want to develop a complex social vision for the regeneration of post-industrial shipyard waterfronts. The project is happening in conjunction with the Creative Europe Memory of Water project with local partner, the Baltic Sea Cultural Centre and the process is seen as the legacy of the long-term activities of Kolonia Artystów (Colony of Artists) in the former Gdańsk Shipyard area.

The first meeting, delivered in the form of a ’City Lab’, with the aim of initiating open public debate towards creating a new vision, took place in Luks Sfera photo workshop in the shipyard area on the evening of Saturday, 26 January. In line with culture-led regeneration methodologies, interested stakeholders are invited to participate in the coming weeks and months – among them city activists, as well as representatives of public authorities (at state and local level), post-shipyard area property owners and developers. This process will result in raising social awareness of the great value of cultural heritage in the post-shipyard area which should be reflected in development plans.

The City Lab, moderated by Roman Sebastyanski, attracted 20 participants and comprised of two parts: firstly, a series of short presentations by participants which referred to their dream solutions for the regeneration of the former Gdańsk Shipyard area; and secondly, an open discussion at a pop-up exhibition of artworks referring to the shipyard, curated by Agnieszka Wolodzko. The exhibition featured films by Iwona Zając, Dorota Nieznalska and Roman Sebastyanski, a model installation by Dorota Nieznalska, and drawings by Agnieszka Wolodzko.

The dreams collected during the gathering will serve as the foundation for building an alternative, creative vision for the development of the post-shipyard area.