From industrial use to creative impulse is more than just a slogan.

SECOND CHANCE is a developmental research project of five European cities, determined that derelict industrial areas should come alive or further their development with the aid of culture and creativity. It is up and running in Nuremberg, Leipzig, Venice, Krakow and Ljubljana.

The Ljubljana partners in the project are the City of Ljubljana and the Galleries and Museums of Ljubljana, who are partners in a project to transform and renovate the Rog factory into the Rog Centre for Contemporary Arts.

The goal of the SECOND CHANCE project, which is to last three and a half years, is to analyse, refine and test proposed solutions for urban regeneration and promote brownfield site redevelopment in each of the cities involved and thus create conditions for the sustainable development of former industrial sites. As well as the Rog former bicycle factory these are the former AEG factory in Nuremburg, Leipzig's HALLE 14 cotton mill, Arsenale in Venice and a tram depot in Krakow.

The first project milestone

The first project milestone is an analysis of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWAT) of the regeneration projects for the Rog site. From among the applications submitted to carry out analysis we in Ljubljana selected the Institute for Civilization and Culture, which is to analyse the possibilities to develop the area of the former Rog factory into a Centre for Contemporary Arts. The results of the analysis are to be publically presented in early 2011. On the basis of the results of the SWAT analysis and consultations with stakeholders we will then refine the conceptual design of the future development of the Rog Centre for Contemporary Arts.

The programme design of the Centre for Contemporary Arts was set in 2007 as a result of partnership between the City of Ljubljana and a project group which included representatives of temporary users of the Rog factory as well as professionals and those working in the fields of visual arts, architecture and design. The new centre, the architectural plans for which were produced in a competition from which was selected the MX_SI office from Barcelona, is conceived as an internationally comparable and dynamic production, research, exhibition and social space. A total area of 8,260 m² should include a large exhibition space, studios, laboratories, residential quarters, media salons, demonstration and social facilities. The activities foreseen are in the fields of the visual arts, architecture and design.

The second project milestone

The second project milestone is the preparation of a draft intergovernmental public-private partnership (PPP) for the revitalisation of post-industrial zones, which will be prepared in co-operation with selected external providers and project partners. On the basis of the draft, which will include successful examples of PPP’s in the field of industrial heritage regeneration, and consultations with local stakeholders and experts, each city will develop its own site-specific public-private partnership. Given that Ljubljana City Council has adopted the Act on PPP (2009) to implement (invest in) a project to renovate the former Rog factory, we in the SECOND CHANCE project have focused on how, through innovative models of public-private partnerships, it is possible to develop relevant programme content of the Rog Centre of Contemporary Arts.

The third project milestone

The third milestone is to carry out pilot investments that will be based on the results of previous activities. Invesments in partner cities’ post-industrial zones will be designed to verify the results of research and advanced solutions to stimulate development in these areas and the feasibility of a single cultural project.

Key data

Support programme: INTERREG IVB CENTRAL EUROPE
Value: €2,882,700 (overall project cost); €2,269,080 (EU support)
Duration: January 2010–June 2013 (3.5 years)
Investors: City of Nuremberg project partners: MIB – Fünfte Investitionsgesellschaft mbH | HALLE 14 e. V. | Aufbauwerk Region Leipzig GmbH | Arsenale in Venice | the City of Venice | Krakow Museum of Urban Engineering | the City of Krakow | the Cities and Museums of Ljubljana | the City of Ljubljana

Ljubljana contact: Urška Jurman, Second Chance co-ordinator, Ljubljana (City of Ljubljana – Department of Culture) urska.jurman@ljubljana.si and Meta Štular, Head of Second Chance, Ljubljana (Mueums and Galleries of Ljubljana) meta.stular@mgml.si.

The Second Chance project is part of the CENTRAL EUROPE programme, part funded by the European Regional Development Fund.

More about the Second Chance project is available here.