Poznan.pl, oficjalna strona Miasta Poznania

Basile Michel is the Professor of Geography at Cergy Paris University and a member of the PLACES and ESO research centres. He completed his doctoral thesis at the University of Angers in years 2014-2017, and in 2018 took up a position as associate professor at Ningbo University in China. His research explores the links between arts, culture and cities and hence a number of studies and publications on creative and cultural districts. We were able to hear about examples of these districts from around the world at the meeting.

We talked about creative neighbourhoods and cultural coexistence within a district and Basile outlined three criteria with which we can define a creative and cultural district. And these are: the limited territory of the district, the spatial concentration of cultural and creative activities in the area and the existing network of cooperation between these activists. Interestingly, these districts can emerge in two ways, either bottom-up and spontaneously or with the support and plan of city leaders. 

The advantages of such districts are the positive impact on the urban atmosphere and cultural vitality, the improvement of the image and the enhancement of the attractiveness of cities with media publicity, but also the social and urban transformation that these districts undergo. However, together with the burgeoning creativity and popularity of the district, challenges arise, such as the decline of artistic creativity in these disticts in the face of increasing commodification, increased tourism, progressive gentrification and the institutionalisation and political instrumentalisation of a given area.

After the interesting lecture, the audience could ask Basile questions. The group of listeners was honoured by the presence of the director of the French Institute in Poland, Audelin Chappuis, and the conversation, which took place in French, was interpreted by Elwira Wróbel, Director of Brittany House. 

Basile Michel also visited Poznań on the occasion of a lecture given at the Urban Development Forum entitled "For a cohesive city? Participatory art projects and the cultural vitality of urban spaces".