WUF in the City
11 Urban Zones for the 11th session of the World Urban Forum
A zone for discussion on the city and urban policy in various contexts: transport and mobility, urban planning, ecology, economy, socio-cultural identity. Meetings, debates, exhibitions and workshops on issues important to residents of metropolitan areas will take place here. In the Metrolab zone it will be possible to learn about the goals and priorities of the Upper Silesian and Zagłębie Metropolis, as well as its projects.
Opening hours: 10:00am - 8:00pm
Host: Upper Silesian and Zagłębie Metropolis
Location: The Centre for Scientific Information and the Academic Library, 11A Bankowa Street
An open-air zone in the green space of Bogucki Park. It will host numerous attractions aimed primarily at young people. Participation in them will allow you to deepen your knowledge of how the city works, meet interesting people from all over the world and have a pleasant time listening to good music. In the Youth City it will also be possible to take part in various sports activities. The programme includes silent disco, open-air cinema, volleyball tournaments and yoga classes.
Opening hours: 4:00pm-11:00pm
Host and partners: Youth Council of WUF11, City of Katowice
Location: Bogucki Park
The zone will be located in the city centre, right next to the market square, in a charming corner next to a fountain imitating the Rawa River flowing under the square's surface – in the shadow of Canary phoenixes, which a few years ago brought an exotic spirit to this part of Katowice. It will be a place for rest and relaxation. In the tranquil atmosphere of the zone, it will be possible to deepen one's understanding of the directions the world is taking as set out by the Sustainable Development Goals.
Host: City of Katowice
Location: Market Square, on the Rawa River
The zone will be created in cooperation with Silesian universities, which will help to take a closer look at the subjects of urban technologies, ecology and sustainable development through the prism of natural sciences, engineering and social studies, as well as art and sport. The meetings will take the form of lectures, debates and workshops, as well as other forms of activity, both outdoors – in tents set up for this purpose – and indoors at the University of Silesia.
Host and partners: University of Silesia and K. Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice, Academy of Fine Arts in Katowice, Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education, University of Silesia, Silesian University of Technology, Silesian Medical University, University of Economics
Opening hours: 4:00pm-9:00pm
Location: Faculty of Humanities of the University of Silesia, 4 Uniwersytecka Street, 40-007 Katowice
In the Innovation Zone, during workshops, demonstrations, debates and meetings with practitioners and experts, we will discuss the topics of broadly understood urban innovation, impact projects and smart city solutions. The programme will include presentations of the use of artificial intelligence and IoT technologies and solutions for social innovation. In the Innovation Zone we will also elaborate on topics related to the transformation of urban space that takes place through cooperation between local government and the business community.
Opening hours: 9:00am- 8:00pm
Host and partners: City of Katowice
Location: Rawa.Ink Municipal Business Incubator, 17A Teatralna St.
Located in the heart of the city, the zone will encourage the people of Katowice, residents of the metropolis and guests of WUF11 to visit it, above all, with numerous artistic events. The main area of the market square will host a stage with musical surprises, concerts, performances by local artists and theatre performances. There will also be an opportunity to take part in evening dances.
Host and partners: The City of Katowice
Location: Market Square
Located in the very centre of the city, the zone will become a centre for education about sustainable development goals. From June to the end of September, at the corner of Młyńska and Pocztowa Streets, it will be possible to visit an interactive exhibition devoted to the directions of the modern world and to take part in dozens of interesting events.
Visitors will be able to find out how Katowice is meeting its sustainable development goals, take part in workshops for adults and children, film screenings and meetings with experts. The programme of events will be available at www.katourbancorner.pl, where it will also be possible to play games with the theme of sustainable development.
Opening hours during WUF11: 12.00am – 20.00pm
Open until September 30: Wed - Sun 12:00am - 6:00pm
Host: City of Katowice
Location: corner of Młyńska and Pocztowa Streets
The zone will be arranged in the space of the Silesian Museum, which was established on the premises of a former coal mine. Its location clearly refers to the Silesian heritage, and at the same time recalls the modern image of Katowice, which is developing on the foundations of culture and the "meetings industry". Every visitor to WUF11 will have a chance to explore the exhibition on the history and transformation of the region, which – like the entire space of the Zone – refers directly to the theme of this year's conference.
Opening Hours 10:00am -10:00pm
Host: Silesian Voivodeship
Location: Silesian Museum
The zone, located in the most entertainment-oriented part of Katowice, will offer suggestions for evening integration and fun not only to the participants of WUF11, but also to the local residents willing to visit the promenade on Mariacka Street. Thanks to the concerts and performances by local bands that are planned here, Katowice will be reminded of its title of UNESCO Creative City in the field of music. Mariacka Street will respond not only to the needs of music fans, but also food and coffee lovers, thanks to numerous restaurants and cafes, many of which have committed themselves to the “WUF Friendly” programme by preparing special menus for participants.
Host: City of Katowice
Location: Dworcowa Street promenade
The zone, located in the downtown area – at the intersection of Katowice's most important traffic routes – seems to remind us of the city's continuous development, of the opportunities and challenges it faces, but also of the obstacles to further growth. Just like the exhibition prepared by the Academy of Fine Arts titled "Utopias/Dystopias. The Future of the City", which will be on display here. The zone will also feature the Urban Policy Observatory Forum, the Urban Lab Forum and Human Smart Cities session. Everything in the form of inspiring lectures, workshops, author meetings and free discussions allowing for the exchange of experiences and reflections on future of the cities.
Opening hours: 8:00am - 8:30pm
Exhibition of the Academy of Fine Arts: 1:00pm - 10:00pm
Host: Institute of Urban and Regional Development, Academy of Fine Arts in Katowice
Location: The "Rondo Sztuki", General J. Ziętek Roundabout
Located in the central part of the city, the well-known studio cinema will be a space for discussing urban issues with the involvement of representatives of science, politics and inhabitants. It will offer evening screenings of films on urban and environmental themes. The screenings will be complemented by meetings with experts, during which there will be an opportunity to participate in an open discussion.
Opening hours 6:30pm - 9:00pm
Host and partners: Institute of Urban and Regional Development, Santander Bank Polska
Location: Cinema "Rialto", 24 Św. Jana Street
