UNIC’s Arts, Culture and Creativity Thematic Line brought an international group of students to Cork to explore urban transformation
The series of workshops, titled Hidden Cities: Artistic Methodologies at Advanced Levels to Explore Urban Transformation (Public Arts Garage Cork), was hosted by University College Cork (UCC). It brought together 73 Master’s and PhD students from ten countries, including participants from UNIC universities as well as partners such as Université de Rennes and Universitat de Barcelona.
Before the in-person sessions, participants engaged in online seminars every Monday from late October to November. The programme challenged them to look at the city from fresh perspectives. Cork’s streets and hidden spaces unfolded through sensory experiences as students embarked on self-guided tours, uncovering untold stories embedded in the urban fabric. Workshops explored how artistic methods can reshape city experiences and create spaces for encounters. Over several days, participants engaged in improvisation, speculative design, and discussions on how urban spaces can remain open to those unfamiliar with their narratives.
At the end of the programme, students presented artistic concepts designed for Cork’s cultural context. These interventions aimed to invite people who are often excluded from cultural conversations – newcomers, passers-by, and those whose relationship to the city is different.
From the University of Oulu, Dr. Markus Rytinki (Kerttu Saalasti Institute) led a workshop on leveraging artist residencies for urban development and business innovation. Due to high interest, the workshop was held three times and sparked dialogue on how residencies can act as engines for urban renewal. This work will continue in Oulu during its European Capital of Culture year in 2026, when residency operators will collaborate to develop a shared residency model for the city and, later, the wider region.
Text and photo: Markus Rytinki, Project Manager (Luova Triangeli project), Postdoctoral Researcher