The open studio 'Engaging Berlin' Youth in Urban Planning - Berlin as a migrant and activist city.' is a workshop series on engaging young people in city development. In the rapidly changing landscape of cities, professional citymakers—urban planners, developers, and policymakers—are tasked with building spaces that meet the needs of diverse communities. However, one crucial group often left out of the conversation is young people. Youth bring fresh perspectives, creative solutions, and a deep understanding of the challenges their generation faces in urban environments. By engaging young people in city development, we can foster more inclusive, innovative, and forward-thinking urban spaces. This workshop series will focus on equipping current and future professionals, with the tools to advocate for and implement youth-inclusive planning.

Foundation YOU - Young Optimistic Urbanists is an initiative of De Zwarte Hond and is initiated and led by Ellen Schindler, partner at De Zwarte Hond. The foundation aims to promote cultural and architectural education among the city's young residents. With the book METRO O1O, the manifesto ‘Citymakers of the Future’ and a workbook and manual in the making, the foundation wants to engage with young people about the city, in a different way. Stichting YOU was formerly Stichting Ken Je Stad Maak Je Stad. By providing and/or mediating bottom-up materials (book, educational materials, workshops and a workbook for schools and schoolchildren) and developing top-down tools (manifesto and handbook for professional city makers), we aim to increase young people's ownership and interest in and for their own city on the one hand, and on the other hand to encourage professional city makers to involve young people in processes of urban development. This creates a two-way stimulus that should result in processes in which young people become a more active and structural part of “city making”.From school year 2022/23, over 17.000 seventh grade students from 76 schools in Rotterdam received the graphic novel METRO O1O for free. However, the past few years have shown that the METRO O1O book is much more than just a book. The book makes a valuable contribution to the discussion about the city's identity and it touches on issues with which everyone can identify.+ talking together about the IDENTITY of the city+ stories with a COLLECTIVE narrative+ creating social COHESION+ a CONCEPT FOR CITY DEVELOPMENT that works differently+ POSITIVE appreciation for CITIZENSHIP+ the city as one big CANVASThe book is translated in English and has since been replicated in the cities of Groningen and Berlin.For more information on YOU-young optimistic urbanists see: www.y-o-u.nl.

Culture Concrete believes in the power of art and culture in the neighbourhood. With cultural directors ('regisseurs') in all fourteen areas of Rotterdam, we help residents and makers realize their plans. In addition, we advise - solicited and unsolicited - institutions and policymakers on 'hyper-local' culture. In this way, Culture Concrete contributes to a strong city.

CONNY JANSSEN DANST, based in Rotterdam, has been one of the leading modern dance companies in the Netherlands since 1992. The work of artistic director Conny Janssen is widely known for the strong physical and theatrical strength of the dancers and the surprising diversity of her performances, in which high-quality dance is always central. The theme of the big city forms an important breeding ground. Conny Janssen is a specialist in creating performances on location: from theater to factory hall, from church to parking garage. By establishing connections with artists and institutions from the world of photography, film, architecture, theater and music, Conny Janssen places her dance in a broader perspective. Conny Janssen's work has received many awards and can be seen at national and international festivals. In addition, Conny Janssen Danst is a breeding ground for young talent. Both young dancers and young dance makers are given the opportunity to develop within the company's professional environment. This makes the company an important ambassador of modern dance.

The Council for Culture is the legal advisory body to the government and parliament in the field of art, heritage, design and media. The council is independent and provides solicited and unsolicited advice on current policy issues and grant applications.

Next Step Program is initiatiated by the #BNA and #Synchroon. The program focuses on emerging design talent in architecture. Young designers with innovative ideas that represent the power of architecture for the future of the city.Central to this is the development of creative entrepreneurship that contributes in an innovative way in both design and working methods to the faster achievement of the three Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) most relevant to architecture (Good Health and Well-being; Sustainable Cities & Communities, Climate Action).Next Step participants take part in pitches, masterclasses on entrepreneurship, online marketing and sustainability, and a master's apprentice matchmaking with leading architects.The highlight is the presentation of the Next Step Award, a cash prize of €10,000 and possibly an assignment from Synchroon.

Lecture series on the topics of entrepreneurship, project management and business development.