Conference participants who have registered for field trips shall visit a range of public spaces that differ in scope and structure. The visits shall include meetings with the leaders and managers of various venues.

The sites shall include Nekrasov Library, Lefortovo Community Centre, My Career Public Centre, The Garage Contemporary Art Museum, Akhmatova SMART Library, and Make a Thing: Carpentry Co-Working.

Information Garden shall include some findings and best practices from various public spaces that serve as examples of effective communication, including creative posters, cards, unique printed materials, souvenirs, etc.

At this venue, the discussion shall focus on existing stereotypes in viewing the public places, the influence of traditions, the not-so-distant Soviet past, state policy in the field of art and culture, and other factors. How should a public space or a community centre address these stereotypes? Should we challenge them and claim a new identity?

On the other hand, we shall discuss the needs and expectations of our audiences in regards to modern public space or a community centre. What would our visitors wish to see, even if they are used to something else? What kind of innovations or services do they expect from us? Which concepts prove really effective today and why?

At this venue, we shall try to define such ephemeral notion as 'the ambience' of a given space, sometimes referred to as 'the atmosphere'. What are the elements of ambience or atmosphere? How and why it affects a visitor emotionally? How can it be created? What is the role of design in creating a certain ambience? How should we immerse someone into our atmosphere and construct the 'language of our space'?

Representatives of various stakeholders will take the floor, including those that may be called the 'agents' or the 'drivers' of the evolution of public spaces, including a director of a public space currently undergoing major changes, a scholar from the field of culture studies and a public figure, a government official in charge of art & culture, and someone representing business that takes part in developing public spaces.

Who is interested in public space today and why? Why do we see an evolution happening in the field? Who are the agents and the drivers of this evolution? In what way do interests of various stakeholders overlap or come in conflict?

The participants may use this time to unwound and take a break or pick a topic and join a discussion over lunch (you need to sing-up for lunch discussions ahead of time). Each discussion table shall bring together people from the same type of public spaces to discuss the issues relevant to them.

Guest speakers from various countries will share at Space Factory about different models of public spaces, discuss various risk and success factors. What environment factors create a demand for public space? How are local citizens and communities involved? What formats are 'it' and which formats prove to be high maintenance? Who are the key partners, donors, and customers?

A range of master classes and expert sessions focusing on best practices, know-hows, and tools to facilitate professional communication at public spaces.

Funding for public spaces in Russia and abroad comes from different sources. The experts shall share about various financial models other than state funding or programme grants.

How to facilitate interaction with visitors? What is the best way to register, collect data, and ensure feedback? How and for what purpose should the data be analysed? Are there universal algorithms for communication with visitors?

Russian and international experts shall share their perspective on the role of public spaces in developing urban environment and culture, as well as creating the city of the future.

Modern cities are mostly defined by architectural solutions of the 18^th and 19^th centuries, combined with early 20^th century attempts at finding new forms. However, the trends of the 21^st century are gaining influence: new technologies, deforestation, as well as compact planning of high-rise buildings that ruin city skyline and block sunlight. What will the City of the Future be, then? Convenient, safe, and accessible environment, created for happy and healthy life? Or a combination of poorly compatible impoverished projects and elite housing areas, where public spaces shall as well become elite or utilitarian?

During the Architecture of the City of the Future session we shall try to envision the city that we wish to live in on a daily basis, and which could indeed be created for the present and the next generations. Architects, landscape designers, visual communication experts will take the floor and share their vision.

One-on-one meetings with leading experts and public figures from various areas that could provide a unique opportunity to ask the questions that matter to you, get inspired, and get those much-needed contacts.

List of experts and registration for the dates shall be announced later.

Developers representing various regions and various market segments shall take the floor to discuss the common vision of creating a unified space for residents – a community or district centre that strengthens the social fabric of the city and the local economy.

What does the future have in store for us? What stops us from opening community centres in a newly built residential area or business centre? What can help to see the economic benefit of creating social conditions that may bring the dreams of residents to life? Developers that have all the tools to create the City of the Future shall share some of their professional secrets with you.

One-on-one meetings with leading experts and public figures continue.

Local and social economy, collaborative consumption economy and sharing, economy of giving and neighborliness, third place and self-employment schools, initiative budgeting and crowdfunding, social entrepreneurship and urban mutual aid communities, community co-workings and workshops – all of these are economic elements of the cities of the future, and even today they are playing a bigger part in our lives.

How do we ensure growth and sustainability of all of these elements? This question shall be addressed at the Local Economy session.