Project for Public Spaces has selected Baltimore as the host city for the International Placemaking Week conference, scheduled for June 5-8, 2024. Now in its fourth year, the event gathers 600 leaders and influencers from across the globe to champion the transformative power of well-designed, community-driven spaces.

International Placemaking Week is not your run-of-the-mill conference with keynote speakers in hotel ballrooms. It's an immersive experience designed to engage attendees with hands-on sessions, off-site workshops, enlightening tours, and networking events to explore, connect, and drive positive change in public spaces.

"Public spaces serve as arenas for human connection, combating social isolation and providing opportunities crucial for personal and communal growth and success,” said Nate Storring, Co-Executive Director of Project for Public Spaces. "Through meaningful engagement and inclusive planning, Placemaking Week aims to catalyze a global movement to reclaim public spaces and leverage them for broader social and economic benefits."

The Neighborhood Design Center, in collaboration with the City of Baltimore, will serve as the event co-hosts, helping to support regional marketing, fundraising, and planning mobile workshops spanning diverse sectors and disciplines. These workshops will empower attendees to develop and share actionable strategies for advancing placemaking, both locally and globally.

"Our goal is to give attendees an all-encompassing perspective on Baltimore's journey," said Jennifer Goold, executive director of The Neighborhood Design Center. "This city, rich with history, has become a canvas for experimentation and innovation, responding to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and addressing the imperative of racial justice ignited by the events surrounding George Floyd."

Mobile workshops will address issues around reclaiming public spaces from a range of perspectives through spatial, cultural, and equity-based lenses. Participants will have the unique opportunity to witness firsthand Baltimore's transformation, learning from the bold and radical initiatives shaping the city's post-industrial future.

"By having the opportunity to bring Placemaking Week to Baltimore City, we're able to showcase the incredible work being done by communities across our city and open our doors to placemakers from around the world," said Mayor Brandon M. Scott. "This gathering has always been a powerful catalyst for positive change, and as Baltimore plans the future of so many of our shared public spaces, there's no better time to welcome so many incredible professionals in this space. We're thrilled to be playing such a central role in this year's forum and look forward to welcoming everyone to Charm City."

Past International Placemaking Weeks in Vancouver (2016), Amsterdam (2017), and Chattanooga (2019) have all contributed to the global placemaking movement. Chattanooga's event had a substantial economic impact, injecting $628,319 into the local economy, supporting 158 jobs, and investing in local artists and organizations.

International Placemaking Week 2024 is organized by Project for Public Spaces and cohosted by the Neighborhood Design Center, with seed support from the T. Rowe Price Foundation. For further information and updates on International Placemaking Week 2024, please visit https://www.placemakingweek.org.