PDF hosted at the Radboud Repository of the Radboud University Nijmegen

The following full text is a publisher's version.

For additional information about this publication click this link. http://hdl.handle.net/2066/86889

Please be advised that this information was generated on 2021-09-29 and may be subject to change. the beyond ruhr.2010

Thanks to its re-use of industrial heritage, the Ruhr is a European Capital of Culture for 2010 – and perhaps the greatest benefit of the RUHR.2010 programme may prove to be an improvement in regional self-confidence and governance, says Gert-Jan Hospers 10 UHR.20 R h/ hen Knobloc oc J Above

The Zeche Zollverein mining complex – a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site within the Ruhr region

This year, the Ruhr area of Germany celebrates its European Capital of Culture might have come as a status as European Capital of Culture. Running surprise. ‘The Ruhr? That’s the place where you throughout 2010 under the slogan ‘Change through can’t hang out the washing to dry – it will turn black culture – culture through change!’, a programme of again’ is still a popular joke. But although heavy events and activities (the ‘RUHR.2010 programme’) industry and pollution may dominate its image, in emphasises the cultural uniqueness of the area. For reality the region is changing, and the RUHR.2010 the general public, the designation of the Ruhr as a programme may be a catalyst for yet further change.

Town & Country Planning May 2010 247 Box 1 The legacy of the industrial past

Industrial heritage is not the only legacy of the Ruhr’s traditional specialisation in heavy industries.The environmental technology, energy supply and waste disposal sectors also have their roots in the and steel industry.Thanks to strict environmental rules and high regional demand for clean technologies over the years, firms in the Ruhr were able to build up high levels of expertise in how to counter environmental damage. As a result, the Ruhr has grown into Germany’s centre of environmental technology research. Similarly, research in the field of renewables, resources recycling and waste combustion was stimulated in the Ruhr relatively early on – unsurprisingly, spurred on by the massive amounts of energy needed in, and the waste produced by, the mines and blast furnaces. As with environmental technology, these energy-related activities are future-oriented, although paradoxically they emerged from the region’s tradition in coal and steel.

Industrial conurbation Although the Ruhr’s manufacturing industry has For many years, as the largest industrial now largely gone, the area remains one of Europe’s agglomeration in Western Europe, the stereotypical most densely-populated conurbations: 5.3 million image of the Ruhr more or less held true. The region residents live in a territory comparable in size with has a long tradition in coal mining, steel production two small UK counties. and associated industries such as chemicals and The famous German author Heinrich Böll wrote machine building. From the 1830s until the post-war that ‘The Ruhr does not smell of manufacturing; it period the Ruhr played a crucial role in the smells of people.’ These people, however, economic development of Germany. But in the traditionally feel a strong association with the 1960s came the first mine closures, followed in the region, their heart generally lying with one of the 53 1970s by factory closures and job losses in steel cities and towns that make up the area – such as production. Since then the region’s authorities have , , , and tried to diversify its economy, bring about structural . Often this pride of place is symbolised change, and reduce unemployment. by the local football club. Today, only a few collieries and steel plants Today, around 11% of the residents are remain in operation; service industries are now the immigrants, half of them with Turkish origins. But most important employment sector, providing 71% despite this immigration, the Ruhr is now also a of the region’s jobs. The labour market has shrinking region, suffering from an ageing improved, but unemployment is still high. population and a brain drain. 10 UHR.20 R Above

Schematic map of the Ruhr

248 Town & Country Planning May 2010 Jochen Knobloch/RUHR.2010 transf renat ecological andsocio-economicreconstr Emsc strategy oftheIB re-use theregion demolishing it.Morethan1 T and done. recognised thatthegloriousindustrialpastw fut Fr Emsc look. In1 and theinnerharbourofDuisburgw Ganser withasimplet theref the Zec Cult The GasometerandtheCentrOshoppingmalla Abo and otherindustrialcomple areas. Ne second liv de programme w f W area andre bot ounded b his bot om IBAt W In themid-1 In 1 estphalia, P v ure ofindustrialareas–w tom-up projects aimedatrenat elopment ofaso-called‘R ure ve ith thehelpofIB urated, whilee ormed intolandscapeparks. her areainthecentreofR herpark InternationalBuildingExhibition(IB 999 thetime-limitedactivities oftheIB ore c ’ . F he Zollv tom-up programme–aw 989 Ganserandhisteamsetupthe w ideasf or e es ase y thest T harged thereno vit o RUHR.20 he St xample, theGasometerinOberhausen, alising itsindustrial cult rojekt R 980s thepublicauthoritiesinR ere transf erein coalminingcomple ate ofNorthRhine-W ’ v s industrialherit A, ho ate go ent locationsandrecreational or oldbuildings! xisting greenz uhr wev ask: giv 10 er v , whic ernment ofNorthRhine- A theRiv red toane wned plannerKarl er x 0 es w as aimedatthe , w 0 mines,blastfurnaces oute ofIndustrial e theR h continuedtosetup as thedecisionto T ere includedinthe age insteadof orkshop f urating theR he mostimport er Emsc ones w uhr ere giv w organisation ure. Moreand uhr ane estphalia . uction ofthe x inEssen ere t Oberhausen her w or the en A as o w uhr as A). uhr v ant er Europe W e 20 The RUHR.20 cult whole. Usingtheslogan‘Change throughcult indeed giv more industrialsitesw dif of ane programme organisers aimtodemonstratethe birth high-tec of KarlGanserandhisteamincar and locationsf no the regionhadbeenbuildingonitsindustrialpast ov its legacyraisedinterestfromallo submit uncro title, althoughtheof region insteadofacit Capit T assessing applicationsw ‘does notbreathedustan of Cult urk xample, in20 T T orld Cult er thelastt ficult t w’ 06 theR ogether withPécs(inHungar he originalit ure throughc e . als ofCult y) theR wned regionalcapit T ure f ted theproposalonbehalfof the R w metropolisthrough artandcult his accoladeser ’ s largestcollieries–w h inno ask the en theR ural Herit uhr w or 20 uhr areaisoneofthisy w v 1 To or creativ 0 y ofthew ators, designersandartists. 0 pr ure. F o decades,notingthattheR 1 theZec y w wn & 1 as designatedaEuropeanCapit hange!’ 0. uhr abrightne ogr ere giv T age Siteb ficial titleholderisthe he jur or thefirsttime,awhole Countr y hasbeengranteduseofthe ere t amme v e entrepreneurs,suc ed toconfirmthesuccess , theR as impressedb a he Zollv al ofEssen,whic ymore; itbreathesfut y thattheR en in1 y responsiblef y Planning May2010 urned intoleisureparks as designateda y UNESCO UHR.20 y) andIst erein –oneof 989: the w look. r v ying outthe er theglobe.F ear uhr dealtwith 10 ’ y thew s European ure. . or y ha anbul (in uhr asa And in h uhr h as Among ve ure – ure ay 249 al or the Ruhr’s population the Capital of Culture moment at which the Ruhr Metropolis becomes designation has generated a sense of truly established’. empowerment. More than 2,000 project ideas have been sent to the RUHR.2010 GmBH, which Beyond RUHR.2010 organises and co-ordinates the programme. Like any such large-scale event or project, The programme itself has three guiding strands, RUHR.2010 has provoked criticism in the region. telling the regional story of transformation: Media commentators have, for instance, criticised G ‘Mythology’ – highlighting the region’s industrial an over-emphasis on ‘high-brow’ culture and have roots and its search for the future; pointed to the important role of popular culture in G ‘Metropolis’ – focusing on the quality of life in the the Ruhr. Some critics see the Capital of Culture 53 towns and cities in the Ruhr; and programme as a waste of money, while others G ‘Europe’ – celebrating the international and inter- debate its long-term effects. Indeed, for many of the cultural character of the region. cities that have been European Capital of Culture in the past the benefits of the title have fallen short of These programme themes are developed through expectations. The initial festive mood has often a number of projects, events and festivals in the been eclipsed by a subsequent hangover in the field of the visual arts, theatre, music, language, and form of budget overruns and disappointing visitor other creative industries. The €65 million required to numbers. Only a few European cities – such as finance these initiatives comes from several (1990), Antwerp (1993), and Lille (2004) – authorities (including regional bodies, national have been able to turn the designation to government, and the EU) and private sponsors such sustainable advantage. as Deutsche Bahn, RWE and Eon. RUHR.2010 What, then, are the prospects for the Ruhr? The GmBH is set up as a public-private partnership. RUHR.2010 programme could well have a significant In early January, around 100,000 Ruhr residents effect beyond 2010. Its impact is likely to be not so celebrated the kick-off of RUHR.2010 and the much through a desired improvement of the Ruhr’s opening of the Ruhr Museum at Zollverein. Over the image among the outside world and a resulting course of the year, the programme features more increase in tourism, but rather as a catalyst for than 300 projects – such as ‘An Instrument for Every improved self-confidence and governance in the Child’ (giving every primary school child in the Ruhr region. the opportunity to learn to play a musical Traditionally, the inhabitants of the Ruhr have instrument), ‘Creative.Quarters’ (allowing creative tended to take a somewhat defensive approach to talents to rent open urban spaces), and the their territory – until recently, for example, there expansion of the Folkwang Museum in Essen. was a tendency to show visitors from outside the Among the programme’s 2,500 events, region its museums, castles and parks with almost interesting examples include ‘Shaft Signs’ (featuring an apologetic attitude of ‘Look, we also have culture yellow balloons hovering above the 400 former and nature here.’ Now, thanks to the IBA and the mineshafts) at the end of May, ‘!SING – DAY OF title of European Capital of Culture (which itself SONG’ (the largest public choral concert ever held) obviously stands on the shoulders of the work of on 4 and 5 June, and ‘MELEZ’ (highlighting the the IBA), self-confidence has been boosted. The re- mixture of cultures) in October. In a major event on use and marketing of industrial heritage has made 18 July, the A40/B1 motorway will be turned into the Ruhr’s residents aware that they live in a region one long picnic table, bringing together Ruhr that stands out from other areas. Now, they guide residents from all different cultures and generations visitors along the Route of Industrial Culture and in an event which it is hoped will be ‘the emotional say: ‘Look, what you see here is unique.’

Box 2 Culture and social inclusion

One of the goals of RUHR.2010 is ‘inclusive access to the European Capital of Culture programme for all’, to which end a number of initiatives are being organised. For example, entry fees to the events are discounted for people from disadvantaged groups, and a special ‘barrier- free visitor guide’ to the Ruhr has been designed in co-operation with local well-being organisations and the Lions Club Foundation. In Essen’s Grugapark a so-called ‘Encounters Day’ is being organised to bring together people with and without disabilities. Another example is the ‘Europe InTact 2010’ project, run by the Dortmund University of Science and Technology, which promotes active social inclusion of people with disabilities by fostering musical and creative activity, holding a concert series, and organising a conference highlighting the need for more scientific attention to be paid to social inclusion in culture.

250 Town & Country Planning May 2010 Timmerman eter P Above

The Ruhr is a region full of contrasts

Everyone who visits the Ruhr can see how its end this parochialism, but until recently without much industrial culture has become part of everyday life. success. In this light, the designation of the region The mythology of the Ruhr can be observed as a European Capital of Culture can be seen as a everywhere – and not only in its industrial landmark in the history of the Ruhr. The first success monuments: in stations, shops, restaurants and elsewhere reference is made to the region’s uniqueness. People are becoming increasingly ‘People are becoming proud to live in the Ruhr. The RUHR.2010 projects increasingly proud to live in support this development and thus might strengthen self-confidence and empowerment – the Ruhr.The projects in which in turn is conducive to regional development. RUHR.2010 support this The end of parochialism? development and thus might Hopefully, the feeling of being part of a special strengthen self-confidence and region will take root among all the 53 towns and cities that make up the Ruhr. To date, local empowerment – which in turn politicians have been inclined to strive for localised is conducive to regional rather than regional interest. The lack of effective development’ regional governance within the conurbation, dating from way back, is well illustrated by the traditional differences in gauges between neighbouring has already been achieved: to make the RUHR.2010 cities such as Essen and Duisburg. Inter-city programme happen, local politicians have co-operated competition for investment and amenities has been and set up projects together. It can only be hoped the norm; co-operation and co-ordination the that this experience in good regional governance exceptions. Critics have therefore called the Ruhr ‘an will set the pace for the Ruhr beyond 2010. urban planetary system without a central star’, or ‘an area where the cities proudly ignore each other’. G Gert-Jan Hospers is Professor of City and Regional Unfortunately, this rivalry has hindered the Marketing at the Radboud University Nijmegen, the development of a common regional strategy. Over , and teaches economic geography at the the years, regional bodies in the Ruhr have tried to University of Twente. The views expressed here are personal.

Town & Country Planning May 2010 251