Spatial Practices in Art and ArChitecture for Empathetic EXchange (SPACEX)

Spatial Practices in Art and ArChitecture for Empathetic EXchange (SPACEX) is a transdisciplinary research action that utilises secondments between academic institutions and third sector organisations in order to scope and map European spatial practices. It provides a body of findings that can be easily accessed by commissioning agencies, policy makers and publics through its open source web-site (spacex-rise.eu). SPACEX aims to test, map, analyse, communicate and maximise the ways in which spatial practices in art, architecture and design instigate public exchange and promote empathetic ways of living together in urban space. It responds to the troubling rise of populist nationalism and conflict in European societies by engaging new publics and forging a culture that embraces diversity, difference, and discursive exchange within cities, towns and urban sites. The lack of interdisciplinary knowledge by those working in the cultural sector has significantly affected the way in which the social benefit of cultural activities is understood, articulated and applied. SPACEX proposes that inventing new and inclusive ways of living together, requires the implementation of new transdisciplinary and cross-sectoral practices and methods, that connect spatial practice with cultural sociology, cultural policy, critical pedagogies and behavioural economics. The comprehensive transdisciplinary composition of the SPACEX consortium- 27 partners in 9 EU countries and 1 TC, Palestine – will enable its ERs and ESRs to undertake secondments in a range of world renowned academic institutions, research institutes, arts organisations, biennials, urban agencies, a film festival and a creative media agency.