Clubs in cities are at risk of disappearing due to gentrification, posing a significant threat to local nightlife. In this session, we will explore the challenges faced by club scenes in different cities and the negative impacts of club closures. We will explore the concept of a Club Cadastre – a detailed registry or mapping of club locations, their significance, and their contributions to the local culture. This tool helps track and protect these cultural hubs from being uprooted or closed. Alongside this, we will discuss the Agent of Change principle, which protects venues from consequences of gentrification. Learn how cities are using these strategies to preserve the heartbeat of urban nightlife through thoughtful urban planning.

English Urban Development Policy & Politics / Administration

Moderation

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  Charlie White he/him

  Manchester School of Architecture United Kingdom

  Charlie is an Architect, Tutor and PhD researcher at the Manchester School of Architecture. Working with the Leverhulme Unit for the Design of Cities of the Future, Charlie’s doctoral thesis explores the social and cultural value of club …

Speakers

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  Anna Lafrentz she/her

  Clubkombinat Hamburg / Club Südpol / tba - to be aware Germany

  Anna Lafrentz holds a degree in art mediation and works as a freelance project manager, production manager, and curator in the fields of art, music, and culture. She is passionate about the event industry – creating temporary spaces to …

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  Benjamin (Ben) Thele he/him

  City of Cologne Germany

  Benjamin Thele (*1982) studied History and Romance Studies at the University of Cologne. From 2011 to 2018, he served as the Managing Director of the Theater an der Ruhr in Mülheim, overseeing the theater’s operations and managing a …

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  Marco Balic he/him

  Arena Wien Austria

  The event industry has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember: as a child, I performed as a circus artist, and as a teenager, I frequently took the stage as a musician. In 2015, I founded the cultural collective “Riot,” …

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  Michael Rodrigues he/him

  NSW Economy Commissioner Australia

  Michael Rodrigues is NSW’s first ever 24-Hour Economy Commissioner, having been appointed in April 2021. In December 2023, the Commissioner’s role was made statutory, and the Office’s remit was expanded from Greater Sydney to all of NSW. …

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  Sophie Brownlee she/her

  Music Venue Trust United Kingdom

  Sophie Brownlee is External Affairs Manager at Music Venue Trust with responsibility for external affairs, strategy, and advocacy with all layers of government across the four UK nations. Sophie has experience in several external affairs …

Location