Call for Participation: Panel 25 – "Places in the Making: From Everyday Practices to Top-Down Actions"

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We are delighted to invite you to participate in Panel 25, an engaging discussion on the dynamic processes of placemaking, with a special focus on toponymy - the study of place names and their significance in shaping our relationships with places. This panel explores the intersection of everyday practices, top-down interventions, and technological advancements in contemporary placemaking.

In an era where augmented reality (AR), artificial intelligence (AI), mobile applications, and artistic practices are reshaping how we experience and engage with places, the act of naming and renaming spaces becomes increasingly significant. These innovations open up new pathways for place attachment, but they also challenge traditional understandings of place in the context of increasing mobility, environmental crises, and fragmented experiences.

At the same time, places carry the weight of their temporality and history, manifesting in processes of politicization and heritagization. This interplay between top-down actions, such as urban planning or policy-driven naming decisions, and everyday practices, such as personal place-making activities, creates a fertile ground for inquiry.

Discussion Topics

We welcome contributions that address, but are not limited to:

• Emotional and affective attachments or disattachments to places
• The relationship between personal place experiences and planning decisions
• Naming and renaming places in the context of migration and evolving linguistic landscapes
• Place-based art as a medium for interacting with and transforming the landscape
• Methodological and theoretical approaches to studying placemaking

Interactive Final Discussion

The panel will culminate in a joint final discussion, where participants will have the opportunity to share their personal connections to meaningful places. Using an online application, we encourage you to upload a picture of a place that holds special significance to you. These shared images will serve as a catalyst for dialogue and reflection.

How to Join

This panel is open to scholars, artists, urban planners, and anyone interested in the evolving practices of placemaking and toponymy.

Convenors:

• Terhi Ainiala (terhi.ainiala@helsinki.fi)
• Pia Olsson
• Tiina Äikäs

We look forward to your insights and contributions as we explore the fascinating ways places are shaped, experienced, and named in today’s world. Together, let’s delve into the narratives and practices that define our connections to the spaces around us!