Place Beyond Place symposium

'Place Beyond Place' is a one-day symposium developed by In Certain Places for artists, urban planners, landscape architects, urban designers, public art commissioners and people with an interest in the future of cities.

Inspired by the geographer Doreen Massey's "politics of place beyond place", in which, rather than a bounded locality, the city is understood as the product and producer of global relations, the symposium will examine the relationship between the local and the global in the context of cities such as Preston (which has a population of 130,000), with an emphasis on participation and conversation.

Hosted in an empty shop in Preston city centre, a physical reminder of the city's relationship to the networks of global capital, the event will provide a starting point for discussions about the influence of new technology, migration and the changing face of industry on the city. Furthermore, it will ask how urban design, public art and regeneration might support global relations, whilst acknowledging the responsibilities that these incur.

The morning will feature presentations by the artist Loraine Leeson, visiting research fellow at the University of East London and founding director of cSPACE, an arts organisation supporting local communities in the expression of collective vision and aspiration, and Tim Cresswell, Professor of Human Geography at Royal Holloway, University of London and author of several books including 'Place: A Short Introduction' and 'On the Move: Mobility in the Modern Western World'.

In the afternoon, artists and urban professionals will lead 'alternative' tours of Preston city centre, exploring the city through its social, cultural and natural connections to other, global places. These will include a tour of weeds, in which the notion of 'invasive exotic' will be turned on its head, and an exploration of Preston's first Victorian 'suburb', Avenham, an area which has nurtured new inventions, ideas and faiths but also felt the full impact of economic and social change.

Above all, the event will provide an opportunity for members of different professions to come together, discuss ideas and form new networks. Tickets cost £36 full price, £15 students and include lunch and refreshments (a limited number of bursaries are also available for artists and students). Early booking is required as places are limited. For more information, including how to book and travel information, please visit http://www.placebeyondplace.info/

Place Beyond Place has been developed by In Certain Places, a public art initiative delivered in partnership by Harris Museum & Art Gallery and University of Central Lancashire. For more information about In Certain Places, please visithttp://www.incertainplaces.org/

Price per Delegate: £36.00