New ideas wanted for more vibrant downtown Hamburg

"Culture, creative industries, education and eateries lead to entertaining cultural life for people of all age groups even after business hours. The city centre’s museums, theatres and churches make it a hub of established creatives with up-and-coming ideas," said Karen Pein, Senator for Urban Development and Housing.

The scheme targets associations, networks, foundations, individuals, companies and public investment companies. Funding is available for events, construction, open space design, digital tools and educational schemes focusing on urban culture that make the city centre and HafenCity more sustainable and attractive. "Pilot projects show what change can look like … a step into the future without being utopian, and designed to consolidate this change," said Elke Pahl-Weber, City Centre Co-ordinator.

The funds are being provided as part of the ministry's "Hidden Potential - Community Development of Diversity of User for a Vibrant and Resilient Hamburg City Centre" scheme. The aim is to boost the diversity of uses and to shape structural change. Apart from prototypes  such as the Future Fashion Lab, more pilot projects should revitalise the city centre for everyone and make surban development more sustainable. "The pilot projects are another building block, alongside the successful Frei_Fläche and Fabric projects, with which Kreativ Gesellschaft is boosting the transformation of the city centre," said Egbert Rühl, Managing Director of Hamburg Kreativ Gesellschaft. 
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