In recognition of Hull’s status as UK City of Culture 2017, the special focus of the Spaces and Flows 8th International Conference is "Enculturing the City." The conference aims to explore the growing roles of ‘culture’ and ‘creativity’ in contemporary urbanism, and to interrogate how successfully categories such as art, culture and creativity can transform cities. Can they become key drivers of urban growth, enabling cities to forge increasingly global connections? Do they distinguish cities and generate distinctive place-identities amidst a globalizing world? How successfully do they engage with the education, wellbeing and aspirations of all a city’s communities? The conference will examine critically these issues and the social, economic and cultural challenges and benefits of developing the ‘creative city’ in a context of austerity and political instability. The conference organizers particularly welcome proposals for paper, panel, colloquium and workshop sessions that address the special focus as follows:

• What is a city of culture?
• Where is culture in the city?
• Is culture mobile and does it embed in the city?
• In a context of austerity and political instability what are the social and economic benefits and/or costs of enculturing the city?

Spaces and Flows: Eighth International Conference on Urban and ExtraUrban Studies will be held at the University of Hull, Hull, UK, 12–13 October 2017. We invite proposals for paper presentations, workshops/interactive sessions, posters/exhibits, virtual lightning talks, virtual posters, or colloquia addressing one of the following themes:

Theme 1: Urban and Extraurban Spaces
Theme 2: Human Environments and Ecosystemic Effects
Theme 3: Material and Immaterial Flows

2017 SPECIAL FOCUS: Enculturing the City

CONFERENCE SUBMISSION DEADLINES: The next proposal deadline is 12 March 2017. We welcome the submission of presentation proposals at any time of the year up until 30 days before the start of the conference. All proposals will be reviewed within two to four weeks of submission.

JOURNAL: Spaces and Flows: An International Journal of Urban and ExtraUrban Studies encourages the widest range of submissions and aims to foster the highest standards of intellectual excellence. Articles may be submitted by in-person and virtual participants as well as Research Network Members.

The Journal is indexed by:

• SocINDEX (EBSCO)
• SocINDEX with Full Text (EBSCO)
• Sociology Source International (EBSCO)
• The Australian Research Council (ERA)

CONFERENCE PARTNERS: Geography and Geology, School of Environmental Sciences, University of Hull, Hull, UK

For more information and to submit a proposal visit: http://spacesandflows.com/hullconference-2017