Develop innovative approaches to night culture, economics, and safety in urban development. This and much more is what the international nightlife conference STADT NACH ACHT is all about.
Dortmund hosted together with Livekomm the STADT NACH ACHT at the 1. and September 2, 2022. So far, the internationally respected conference has been held in Berlin. Another novelty: In Dortmund, for the first time, representatives of the Economic Development Agency, the Public Order Office and the police were also at the table.
Patron Lord Mayor Thomas Westphal opened the conference and praised the exchange with the administration: “We want to advance nightlife together.” Dortmund, he said, is the city of networking and brings together all those involved. “In the exchange about the perspectives of nightlife, it is also important to learn from each other,” said the OB.
As a major city of neighbors, it is important for Dortmund to become more attractive in this area as well and to engage in international exchange. At the same time, he said, the city should not forget “its DNA” – neighborhood means proximity, trust and cooperation.
With this, Westphal also alluded to the topic of safety, which has recently been addressed in Dortmund by the “Dortmund Guides”. The “guides” can regulate the influx at busy places in the city – such as the Möllerbrücke – have a descalating effect and also have a short line to the regulatory authorities should a situation get out of control.
NRW State Secretary for Culture Gonca Türkeli-Dehnert was also present and spoke on the subject of the club scene and live music. There is a generational change in the administration and therefore it is much more clear today than in past decades that culture does not only include museums and theaters. “We keep in mind that clubs and live music are part of the cultural landscape.” Türkeli-Dehnert emphasized the importance of networking the scene, which, organized in this way, is a better point of contact for politicians.
The Dortmund night representative Chris Stemann added that “the fear of contact must be further reduced” among all those involved.
New strength
Under the impact of the drastic covid pandemic, Dortmund has envisaged a new strategy for dealing with the challenges and opportunities of an attractive nightlife and its cultural and creative industries with its “New Strength” economic program.
Promote international networks
The international networks of the “City after Eight” the city and the region in the field of nightlife and club culture nationally and internationally was given more visibility and the opportunity to intensify exchanges at all levels. Dortmund has contributed topics and initiatives such as the club culture exhibition in the U or the night commissioner as a central contact person between the event industry, subculture, artists, politics and the population.