Kreowanie miejskiej przestrzeni przez działaczy społecznych w Lublinie
Urban space creation by social activists in Lublin

Summary/Abstract: The aim of the article is to present how the chosen social group acts to appropriate, affect and transform the urban space of Lublin. Members of the group are called social activists, workers for voluntary causes, civil society members or new townsmen and they have taken many actions to modify the Lublin urban space. The article is based on qualitative research. 68 conversational interviews have been conducted in Lublin. The interviewees’ attempts of introducing changes in the city most frequently came down to choosing one of the three ways of involvement: 1) alternative-defiant activities were all types of expression connected with visual and performance street art. They were mostly illegal and the social activists acted unofficially, or they declared their affiliation to this kind of groups; 2) cooperative-consensual actions were connected with the worker’s activities for Lublin’s preparation and participation in gaining title of European Capital of Culture 2016. They were also connected with interlocutors that usually aimed at improving the quality and culture of the urban space, bettering the city’s aesthetics, working towards improving the infrastructure by means of lobbying, dialogue, involvement in the process of area planning; 3) work in organizations focusing on the subject of collective memory and other forms of identity. Social activists in this group organized events related to the history of Lublin, its traditions and cultural heritage to emphasize its value. What is more, five types of activists were possible to identify: 1) personal goals performer, 2) leader of the chosen social environment, 3) volunteer responsible for the common good, 4) analyst improving urban infrastructure, 5) animator concerned about urban space.

• Details
• Contents