What makes a city a great place to live and economically attractive? Culture and creativity play a key role in this: they enrich urban life, foster exchange and can help revitalise neighbourhoods and stimulate new economic growth.
From 5 to 9 October 2026, the ENGAGE.EU Expedition+ took place at the University of Mannheim on the theme of ‘Culture & the City’. 24 participants from nine partner universities came together for a week to engage intensively with these issues. Working in four interdisciplinary groups, the students and doctoral students explored how culture-driven urban regeneration can be shaped.
As a UNESCO City of Music, Mannheim can look back on a long and diverse cultural tradition. In recent years, the city has developed into a key hub for the cultural sector. At the same time, complex challenges and issues have gained in significance. Together with four regional partner institutions, the participants devel
oped solutions to real-world challenges faced in cultural practice.
“There are four real challenges, four cultural institutions and a city that has generously opened its doors to the participants,” says Francesco Leone, organiser of the expedition. “This isn’t just a theoretical idea, but about real people you meet on the street or at a concert. So the real challenge isn’t just design, programming or advertising, but the question of community and belonging.”
Four challenges from the cultural landscape
The four challenges centred on the design of ‘third places’ as venues for social interaction and on audience development:
- BASF Kulturfabrik: The venue offers concerts, school projects, poetry slams and comedy events. Despite its diverse programme, it fails to reach a large part of the city’s population. Participants were asked to develop a concept to break down existing barriers and appeal to new target groups.
- City of Mannheim: In the heart of the city centre, a municipal car park is to be transformed into an inclusive meeting place. Shops, schools, local venues and residents are to be integrated into a shared cultural concept.
- Enjoy Jazz: It is one of Europe’s largest jazz festivals, inviting numerous renowned artists to the region every year. However, like many cultural institutions, it faces the challenge of getting younger generations excited about the festival. How can new, young and diverse target groups be reached without compromising artistic integrity?
- Mannheim National Theatre: The renovation of the theatre building offers an opportunity to establish new meeting places. But how do you create a vibrant and communal meeting place in a diverse neighbourhood that is also accepted outside of performance times? The working group was given the task of developing a creative utilisation concept that equally involves theatre professionals, local residents and partner organisations.
Over the course of a week, the four international groups explored the creative industries and participatory urban development. They held discussions with local change-makers and explored the region’s creative districts. “As we all come from different backgrounds, it’s really great to see how we can use our diverse perspectives to find a solution to the problem together,” summarised Delphine Bache from the University of Toulouse Capitole.
Winning team impresses with car park redesign
On the final day, they presented their ideas to representatives of the partner institutions in a closing presentation. The pitches were very well received and will be of great use in the further development of the projects. The group working for the city of Mannheim impressed with its concept for redesigning the car park and emerged as the winning team from the expedition. The solution involves a public park that actively involves the neighbouring restaurants, dance school, a retirement home and local residents in the redesign. The City of Mannheim is already in discussions with the group to take the project forward.
“The Expedition offers a fantastic opportunity to travel to another country, meet new people from all over Europe, learn from one another and also find out more about the city you’re visiting. I’d recommend everyone to take part in an experience like this,” says Isabelle van Esch from Tilburg University enthusiastically.
