Bachelor Bus. (Comms) QUT, Grad. Cert. Bus. (Int. St.) QUT, Assoc. Dip Rec. St. QUT.

Thinking inside the square: Facilitating Intercultural Citizenship in Civic Spaces with New Media

Abstract

Civic spaces in urban environments, such as town halls, courthouses, parliamentary precincts, and city squares, continue to fulfil important functions in the local governance of a city. However, with the rise of e-democracy services and new civic engagement tools mobile and on the web, the continuing civic relevance of these spaces beyond pure administrative functions is uncertain. What evidence can provide a rationale for a sustained purpose of these spaces that foster and promote civic engagement and intercultural citizenship? How can interactive tools and services enhance and augment the experience of these spaces for citizens? What creative applications of new media are possible to promote intercultural citizenship in these spaces?

It is proposed in this research project to examine civic spaces in the context of community cultural participation as “cultural vitality is an essential component of a healthy and sustainable society” (Hawkes, 2001, p. 8). “Active community participation in arts practice is an essential component of a healthy and sustainable society… arts practice not only opens up fantastic vistas of community expressivity but also… profoundly contributes to the development of community” (Hawkes in Dunphy, 2006, p. 6). This study will examine how community engagement can be enhanced by web and mobile interfaces.

The research project is two-fold: Firstly, it will conduct a contextual review of the role of civic spaces as significant locations in urban environments for community cultural engagement, in the age of technology-driven social networking and on-line citizenship. Primary and secondary data will be gathered from a literature review, in-depth interviews, and site visits. Secondly, using the research findings as a rich source of reference, the study will suggest potential future scenarios of civic spaces that are enhanced or augmented by interactive designs that facilitate the vitality and relevance of civic spaces as community engagement hubs in the 21st Century.

The study is supported by the Urban Informatics Research Lab in the Institute for Creative Industries and Innovation at QUT, and supervised by Associate Professor Marcus Foth and Professor Greg Hearn. The lab hosts an international research cluster “interested in research and development at the intersection of people, place and technology with a focus on cities, locative media and mobile technology” (Urban Informatics, 2009). This research project will be conducted during 2010 and contribute to a better understanding of the role of locative media to enhance civic spaces. It is also intended as a catalyst for both generating innovative thinking and informing the application of technology for civic engagement in urban environments.

Biography

Jodie is a communications professional with 15 years experience working in a variety of consulting and in-house roles in local government, non-government organizations (NGOs), property development and professional services. Her experience includes working on a variety of significant community consultation and community development projects including the Brisbane City Plan, Brisbane Busway and Springfield satellite city. She has also held influential marketing communication roles in organizations such as Brisbane City Council, the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, Stockland property developers and The Rowland Company.

Jodie’s postgraduate studies focus on human interaction and participatory content creation in urban spaces, with an emphasis on the combined potential of new technology and creative practice in the promotion of community engagement that generates social capital.

Supervisors

Associate Professor Marcus Foth (Principal)

Professor Greg Hearn (Associate)