Case 2: A dense neighborhood, comprising of Independent cultural actors in Malmo, Sweden.

Suburban Context

A former industrial zone close to the centre of Malmö, currently populated by small commercial and artisan businesses, car repair shops, ethnic associations, churches, mosques, and independent cultural actors. In 2021 the area was declared a “Culture Sound Zone” where residential properties  are forbidden in order to make space for industries and culture to thrive. The yearly festival was our initial focus as a possible semi-public temporal space organized through a collaboration between the city, a local property owner, a local night club, and NGBG (partner in the project and local association). Since the project started, a conflict emerged between these actors, which led to the exclusion of NGBG from the festival. It is difficult to identify other potential promising semi public spaces. The private buildings are used as semi public spaces with tenants organizing public events and happenings for different communities. However, these initiatives are often focusing on specific groups and the tenants are often in very precarious situations,  since the major property owners in the area don’t seem to be very committed to the creation of a local community.

Suburban Challenge

When it comes to the communities we see a density of differences (immigrant workers, independent artists and cultural actors, associations etc.etc.),  intersectional segregation (nationality, gender, socio-economic background, work kind etc.etc.) with people having an interesting mixture of privilege (like working in opera) and vulnerability. Moreover there is also a lack of sense of community even among people who have similarities (like working in the same branch or having common interests). For this reason it becomes very difficult to make generalizations and talk about recognizable or self-defined communities. 

15 Min City challenge addressed

Access to the means of cultural production in the 15 minutes city. How The cultural sound zone can act as a possible bridge and point of connection for different people and communities in Malmö. The research group is addressing the challenge by Listening to various Cultural actors of different kinds active in the area, 1 artisan, 1 property owner, 1 property owner association, 1 civil servant, 1 person working for a studieförbund (independent organization for adult education), 1 civil society organization working with kids and city development.