CITYMAKERS

We’re happy to share the Urban Storytellers Journal – a collective publication bringing together the voices, reflections, and projects developed within the Urban Storytelling School. Part travel diary, part shared notebook, the journal traces a year of exchange between Sofia and Berlin – of walking, mapping, storytelling, and reimagining urban life. Inside, you’ll find project documentations, interviews, and discussions on topics such as public space, participation, care, identity, memory, and collective imagination – all shaped by the perspectives of young cultural practitioners.

​About program:
​Urban Storytelling School is an Erasmus+ partnership program by Center for Social Vision / Sofia and C*SPACE / Berlin, aimed at artists, educators, urban experts, activists, and community leaders, who would like to envision and reshape urban spaces through international learning and hands-on storytelling projects such as interactive walks, experimental guides, interventions, and mapping. Activities include residencies in Berlin and Sofia, mentoring sessions, group project work and a final publication. The program is funded by Erasmus+ Small-scale Partnerships in Youth program.

The full Urban Storytellers Journal is now available to read and download here.

You can also access all the articles in English, German and Bulgarian on Journal for Social Vision and Citymakers blog:

• “A Space can be Valuable Because of its Social Significance” Interview with architect Viktor Damov: ENG, BG, DE
• Zehn/Десет Chain-Travel-Card: Project by Ksenia Lapina and Maria Fallada Llandrich
• “Youth Spaces: from Chill Spots to Civic Spaces” Interview with Kinder- und Jugendbüro Pankow and Gangway e.V.: ENG, BG, DE
• Recipes For Future: Project by Elena Balabanska, Eleonora Edreva and Izabela Markova: ENG, BG, DE
• “The Lack of Shared Space is not Only an Urban Problem, but Also a Social One” A conversation with Vladiya Mihaylova / Toplocentrala: ENG, BG, DE
• “What Would you Share with Others and What Should be Shared with You?” “Sharing” Kiosk — Небайдужі by Maryna Markova / Koopkultur e.V.: ENG, BG, DE
• Finding Home: Project by Sofie Bang Kirkegaard, Charlie Wanda, Guglielmo Sandri Giachino, Jamie McGhee
• „Temporary Interventions are the Most Valuable, Because They Create an Aura, Energy, and Soul..” Interview with sculptor and stonemason Dimitar Nikolov: ENG, BG, DE
• The Shiny Sexy: Heterotopias In Student Town: Project by Maria Getova, Asya Petkova, Ana-Maria Molnar: ENG, BG, DE
• Instruction Session by Silvia Cherneva, Inspector of Playability of Public Spaces and member of the Association of Independently Playing Citizens of Working Age: ENG, BG, DE

Journal Contributors:
Elena Balabanska • Silvia Cherneva • Viktor Damov • Viktoria Draganova • Eleonora Edreva, Maria Fallada Llandrich • Guglielmo Sandri Giachino • Maria Getova • Anna Ivanova • Britta Kaufhold / Kinder- und Jugendbüro Pankow • Roland Krause / Gangway e.V. • Ksenia Lapina • Izabela Markova • Maryna Markova / Koopkultur • Jamie McGhee • Vladiya Mihaylova • Sofie Kirkegaard • Ana-Maria Molnar • Dimitar Nikolov • Asya Petkova • Katya Romanova • Charlie Wanda

We have a limited number of print copies, so write us to reserve yours: info(at)c-space.eu (Berlin), viktoria(at)swimmingpoolprojects.org (Sofia). We would love to hear your thoughts and reflections on the publication, so feel free to share any feedback with us!

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
This license requires that reusers give credit to the creator. It allows distribution, remixing, adaptation, and building upon the material in any medium or format, including for commercial purposes.

The European Commission’s support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents, which reflect the views only of the authors, and the Commission or National Agency for Education for Europe at the federal Institute for Vocational Education cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained herein. This publication is the product of a co-creation process within the framework of the Urban Storytelling School project. The views within do not necessarily reflect the views of the project consortium.

Program partners:
C*SPACE is a purpose-driven creative space for co-working, projects and events in Berlin-Weißensee. We also initiate cultural and learning programs, co-creating and connecting ideas and encounters across borders. C*SPACE is a hub for social innovation, where global and local neighbors come together across cultural and sectoral boundaries to develop critical awareness and solutions for new forms of regenerative work and learning, as well as celebrate cultural diversity and exchange. C* stands for curiosity, courage, community and collaboration. www.c-space.eu

Center for Social Vision is an idea space and platform fostering exchange of experiences, policies and action towards socially-related art practices. Established in 2021, it brings together curators, artists, researchers, writers, architects and designers to explore the intersections between art and society, looking for opportunities for dialogue and reflection. Since 2022, we publish the online media Journal for Social Vision that is open to research and discussions related to topics of community, environment, urban space and cultural heritage. It is run by the The Blue Cube Foundation and partners with the art space Swimming Pool as well as the festival Nine Elephants, also run by the same organization. www.centerforsocialvision.org