The COVID-19 lockdown deprived citizens around the world of their mobility. This experience has inspired many citizens to rethink their mobility, to describe it less in terms of quantity – the speed and distance of their journeys – and more in terms of quality and freedom. The Urban Mobilities online publication will be advocating for a post-COVID urban mobility that is pluralistic and benefits all walks of life. It will do so by showcasing projects that question and challenge conventional mobility and its negociation in the public space. 

Argument

The COVID-19 lockdown deprived citizens around the world of their mobility. Lockdown restrictions not only slowed down economic activities, they also had an impact on people’s wellbeing, their social life, their ability to relax and be active, to wander, think and take part in urban gatherings. This experience has inspired many citizens to rethink their mobility, to describe it less in terms of quantity – the speed and distance of their journeys – and more in terms of quality and freedom.

The Urban Mobilities online publication will be advocating for a post-COVID urban mobility that is pluralistic and benefits all walks of life. It will do so by showcasing projects that question and challenge conventional mobility and its prioritisation in the public space. These projects can be essays, urban interventions, choreographies, hackings, videos, graffitis and furniture; any type of project is accepted as long as it can be presented using texts, images or videos. The publication will be free and won’t require any exclusive distribution. 

Submission guidelines

We invite interested artists, authors, activists and designers to send a link, short description and picture of their project by email to mobilities@plural.world.

The deadline for submission is 16th August 2020.

Selected participants will be contacted shortly after and have the opportunity to send more details about their project before publication. 

Criteria

Projects will be selected based on the following criteria (not all are required):

• Highlights the different functions of mobility: efficiency, enjoyment, social interactions, physical activity, political demonstrations, etc.
• Encourages people to reflect on their mobility and emotions it evokes.
• Encourages negotiation and conciliation of mobilities in the public space.
• Promotes mobility of minorities and people from disadvantaged backgrounds.
• Uses digital technology to reshape urban mobilities.

For reference, here are two of our previous publications:

• Pluralism is Digital Communities (interviews)
• The Semiotics of Video Games (online art exhibition)

Selection Committee

To be announced