Creative Hubs Learning Forum: A Deep Dive into Resilience and Knowledge Ecosystems
As part of the Creative Hubs Learning Forum, a closed meeting held in Ankara brought together diverse voices to explore the role of creative spaces in fostering social resilience and contributing to knowledge production processes. The session opened with remarks from Project Team Leader Letitia Manach, followed by key insights from experts and representatives of the Istanbul Development Agency, who emphasized the significance of the forum.
The first session introduced the “Resilience Toolkit” designed specifically for creative hubs. Presented by Duygu Vatan, co-founder of Impact Hub Ankara, the toolkit aims to support creative structures in accessing, processing, and applying knowledge to their daily practices. Available via dayaniklilik.org, the toolkit serves as a user manual intended to enhance creative hubs’ capacities to adapt to evolving conditions. An interactive discussion followed the presentation, addressing questions and feedback from participants.
The second session, held in a “Talkshop” format, offered a deeper exploration into resilience within creative ecosystems. Esra Gönen from Originn, Gizem Gezenoğlu from Fermente, and Yaşar Adanalı from Postane emphasized that creative hubs act as “paradoxical agents” — both shaped by crises and possessing transformative power.
The Q&A segment was particularly enriching, as speakers shared personal experiences involving failure, vulnerability, and reconstruction. Participants’ questions encouraged multifaceted interpretations of the resilience concept, offering new perspectives.
During the forum’s harvest and closing session, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ersan Ocak reflected on the discussions through the lens of “paradox,” highlighting the toolkit’s non-linear and heterogeneous structure. Ocak noted that the idea of homogenous societies is being left behind and proposed a conceptual framework for how creative hubs can relate to these emerging realities.
The event concluded with a networking session, offering creative space practitioners a valuable opportunity to connect, exchange ideas, and strengthen relational networks. This gathering served as a meaningful platform both in terms of content and collaborative potential.
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