Meet Katja, the “mastermind” behind the CITYMAKERS network, who loves designing models of creative interaction that have both thematic depth and a human touch.
CITYMAKERS | 城市创制 | STADTMACHER – A transcultural and transdisciplinary network of inspired change-makers and thinkers seeking alternative pathways to liveable cities in China, Europe and beyond.
To create new approaches to sustainable living spaces – in cities and the countryside – and develop healthier, more ecological, more human, more culturally inclusive practices and prototypes.
City-making means building belongingness, not just houses. Be it in China or Europe, the ability to create communities – both spatial and social – is the ‘currency’ that lies at the heart of livable cities.
Since 2015 the CITYMAKERS China-Europe program has grown into an ecosystem of places, spaces and people networks for the exchange and testing of new models of livable cities. In these transformation hubs, peers of the CITYMAKERS ‘global village’ have acted as catalysts for change, sharing solidarity, inspiration and friendship.
The Invitation
Engage with the CITYMAKERS Global Village Network to boost its relevance!
Join our we-chat community, inquire to get on the mailing list, connect with us at info@c-makers.de and send an introduction: Who are you? What is your background & expertise? How does CITYMAKERS resonate with you? Why do you want to join? You might also like to follow-us on Facebook or on Instagram.
The Calling
- China is not just a country; it is a global challenge topic. It’s a need for a shift of perspective. Cultivating relationships with peers in China is NOT a nice to have, BUT a MUST DO.
- Our earth is in danger! Re-reconnecting with nature, valuing culture as our “soil’ equally, cultivating human interaction is more than ever ‘the command of the hour’.
- Global ecosystems for a critical mass! Challenges of city making are global ones, thus requiring global support mechanisms and dialogue that help pioneers sustain their commitment, in particular when local peers are still few.
The Offer
Walk, talk, connect…
- Watch our 2020 CITYMAKERS Virtual Walks Series.
- Find out about upcoming live (not virtual!) walks on Facebook.
- Join our live CITYMAKERS Salons & Meetups at C*SPACE Berlin.
- Join our online WeChat community with 200+ members (send your personal introduction to info@c-makers.de and receive your invitation).
- Sign up for our newsletter by writing to us at info@c-makers.de.
Connect with the CITYMAKERS RUHR Network.
Understand, inquire, map…
- Check out our huge CITYMAKERS Knowledge Hub with its many interviews.
- Discover special projects like our ‘Keep Wuhan Walking’ online magazine.
- Find a list of all publications, studies and mappings.
- Use the CITYMAKERS Suitcase tools (open source).
- Get a tailor-made ‘Learning Cities Map’ for your city partnership ecosystem.
Build capacity, create, incubate…
- Sign up for CITYMAKERS Labs and learning programs (open community offers dependent on available funding; custom-tailored programs available on demand).
- Inquire about our social entrepreneurship competence training.
- Get connected with experts in our network to mentor you at the critical idea incubation stage of your creative project.
Co-initiate, strategize, partner up…
- As an individual affiliate of our network, use the CITYMAKERS brand – along with all its communication materials – for your local /regional activities. Inquire more: info@c-makers.de
- Join the International Bosch Alumni Network to access even more networks.
- As an organization, enterprise or institutions: Co-create new partnerships and projects with us drawing on our huge knowledge-hub. Contact Katja Hellkötter for an exchange of first ideas.
- Find out about the partners who have collaborated with us and be inspired.
The Project Set-up
CITYMAKERS China-Europe was co-initiated by the Robert Bosch Foundation and CONSTELLATIONS in 2015. The foundation was the main funder in the first 5 years of the program cycle, and CONSTELLATIONS International acted as its executing agency and co-initiating program host. CONSTELLATIONS is an intermediary actor within Sino-European exchange with a focus on sustainability, cities and culture. It was first founded in Shanghai in 2009 and is also based in Berlin since 2015.
CITYMAKERS China-Europe is now in a phase of transition looking for new partners. C*MAKERS, the name of our website, signals our openness to new directions, thematic-wise and structure-wise: collaborators, co-creators, common purpose, countryside, climate change, collective interest etc
If you want to co-create the future of the CITYMAKERS Network and partner with us, get in touch with CITYMAKERS Network Host, Katja Hellkoetter based ad C*SPACE Berlin – Creative Spaces for Ideas & Encounters Across Borders. Contact: Kh@constellations-international.com
Core Team of Curators & Makers Behind
Profile: Silvan Hagenbrock 思尔闻 | Urbanist, Editor & Film
Get to know Silvan Hagenbrock, who has been part of our CITYMAKERS core team since 2016 and contributes his creative energy as filmmaker and editor on urban issues. For him, CITYMAKERS is a (virtual) sphere where the supposedly “other” becomes a little more familiar.
Profile: Kika Yang 楊 | Architect, Editor, Curator
Get to know Kika Yang, who supports CITYMAKERS as a curator and editor, making use of a variety of formats such as offline exhibitions, videos and podcasts. Kika Yang believes that because democracy is being reshaped due to the information revolution, we can now – more than ever before – take direct action into shaping the places we like to live in.
Profile: Yimeng Wu 吳禕萌 | Communication Designer, Illustrator & Book Artist
Meet Yimeng Wu, communication designer and founder of Studio Wu 無, who is the artistic soul behind CITYMAKERS’ visual identity. Yimeng Wu likes to discover the different historical and social layers of a city through artistic discovery. She strongly believes in the importance of making our cities more green and more resilient with regard to climate change.
Profile: Sebastian Schlecht | Representative CITYMAKERS Ruhr
Get to know Sebastian Schlecht, who is supporting our CITYMAKERS platform as the regional representative of CITYMAKERS- Ruhr. He strongly believes in the power of connecting people and natural solutions to make our cities more resilient, just and future-proof to mitigate the strong impact of climate change.
The Organisations Behind – See Full Partner List here.
Co-initiated and launched CITYMAKERS China – Germany in 2016 together with CONSTELLATIONS.
CONSTELLATIONS International GmbH is the program host and agency behind CITYMAKERS.
A unique private institution, independent gallery, campus, and platform for global discourse on contemporary architecture and urban design. A nucleus for Sino-German architectural exchange since 2001.
Founded by the Robert Bosch foundation to develop and disseminate an approach to alumni work that encourages and spreads positive social impact.
A German-Chinese alumni network on the topic of urbanization coordinated by the China Center at TU Berlin, funded by BMBF.