Invitation: Placegame Museumplein, 19 or 20 June 2014

INVITATION

PLACEGAME MUSEUMPLEIN

19 OR 20 JUNE 2014

www.pps.org www.placemakingplus.com www.stipo.nl

How do we make Museumplein an attractive and inviting place for “Amsterdammers�? On the 19th and 20th of June we organise a two-day Placegame with Fred Kent and Kathy Madden from PPS.org. Together with 60 to 80 people per day we seek to mobilise ideas, dreams, energy and concrete proposals to kick-off a project at Museumplein.

WHAT IS PLACEMAKING?

WHY PLACEMAKING AT THE MUSEUMPLEIN?

“Placemaking is turning a public space from a place you can’t wait to get through, to one you never

The cultural institutions around Museumplein are of national and international appeal. Every year

want to leave.” Placemaking is an approach that originates from the United States. It is based on

there are four million people visiting Rembrandt, Vermeer, Van Gogh, Gauguin, Malevich, Kienholz

the practical research of William H. Whyte and Jane Jacobs, and has been put into practice by Fred

and the Concertgebouw. The Rijksmuseum and the Stedelijk Museum have been restored in

Kent and Kathy Madden from Project for Public Spaces (PPS.org). PPS.org has become well-known

previous years and the Van Gogh Museum has just been renovated. Recently they have all turned

from the case of Bryant Park in New York, and in the meantime the organisation is active all over the

their “face” towards the Museumplein. Therefore, the Museumplein has received a totally new

world. Placemaking always begins with the community and the users. Placemaking does not have a

character, from the backyard to the central space.

determined final image; it begins by doing small interventions (quick wins). Users begin to organise

Museumplein itself has a long tradition with World Exhibitions, gymnastrada’s, an Olympic size ice-

and provoke new ones. If these prove to be successful they show the direction to a higher level for

skating ring, demonstrations and celebrations. Various events still bring a lot of public to the square,

Museumplein.

but usually for only one time. It’s the daily use that has much more potential. Museumplein lies in the heart of the city, but Amsterdammers rarely see it as an attractive or fun place to meet. An important question is: how do we make Museumplein a place more attractive for Amsterdammers to meet?

We are looking for an attractive mix and / or more layers of activities for all visitors

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PLACEGAME: 19 AND 20 JUNE 2014

CONDITIONS OF PARTICIPATION

At a Placegame users and initiators have the chance to meet each other and see the square through

This invitation is forwarded to people who have a passion for Museumplein: placemakers, musicians

different eyes, to analyse the components of the square and to develop in teams any dreams and

and artists, initiators of Amsterdam and international appealing activities, directors and marketeers

ideas. Placemaking Museumplein, including the Placegame takes a whole day, it begins with an

of cultural institutions, users of the area –like residents-, youngsters and entrepreneurs settled on

introduction to Placemaking by Fred Kent & Kathy Madden from Project for Public Spaces (PPS)

the square and in the Spiegelstraat and P.C. Hooftstraat, organisers of new markets and horeca,

followed by rounds of seeing / observation, analysis, interviewing, listening, watching and eventually

representatives of the City of Amsterdam and Stadsdeel Zuid, companies with a commitment to

to develop ideas and share them with each other. A Placegame provides amazing new energy and

communities.

insights. Some quick wins may be applied immediately, while others may be planned for the period

This is a personal invitation due to your involvement at Museumplein. You can choose whether you

thereafter. Quicker, lighter, cheaper!

would like to participate either on the 19th for the northern part or the 20th of June for the southern

Given the size of the Museumplein we have decided to split it into two parts; the northern and the

part of the square. The condition is that you should be able to participate the whole day, from 9

southern part of the square. Therefore, we organise a two-day game, on the 19th and 20th of June

till 17 o’clock; a participation of few hours is not advised due to the structure of the daily program.

for each respective part of the square. Each day there is a group of between 40 and 80 participants.

Participation is free of charge, but due to limited availability of places we would charge € 150 for

The Placegame is organised by Stipo, Placemaking Plus, Posterscope and Pakhuis de Zwijger in

no-show.

cooperation with Gemeente Amsterdam and Stadsdeel Zuid.

We kindly ask you to confirm your participation by sending an email to museumplein@stipo.nl.

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PLACEGAME MUSEUMPLEIN 19 OR 20 JUNE 2014 www.pps.org www.placemakingplus.com www.stipo.nl