When Art Becomes Part of the City: ARCHICA 2026 and a New Approach to Urban Space

Until recently, art in urban spaces was often treated as a finishing touch: a sculpture here, a mural there, an art installation in a public space. Today, that approach is changing. Culture is increasingly becoming part of a project from the very beginning, before an architect even draws the first lines of a future space.

And this is no longer simply a question of aesthetics. A well-considered cultural component can give a place its character, influence how people use it, create an emotional connection with the city and ultimately enhance the appeal of an area.

This is precisely what ARCHICA 2026 will explore.

Not Decoration, but Part of the Vision

One of the forum’s key sessions will focus on cultural masterplanning, an approach that treats culture as one of the tools for developing a place.

In practice, this means that even at the masterplanning stage, it is possible to determine which public spaces, artworks, cultural venues and events will shape the character of a new neighbourhood or even an entire city.

The session will explore the relationship between architecture, public art and the way people experience a place. In other words, it is not just about how a space looks, but also about how people feel and what they do there: whether they stop and spend time, whether they come back, and whether they see the place as part of their everyday lives.

But How Much Does It Cost, and Why?

The second session, “Building Culture into Place”, will take the discussion a step further, from ideas to practice.

Participants will discuss how to make the case for a cultural component to investors and developers, what financial models can be used, and how cultural projects can be integrated into the broader economics of developing an area.

The role of the curator will also be an important topic. In the contemporary city, a curator may work with much more than an exhibition or museum display. Their role can begin with understanding the history of a place, its audiences and future patterns of use, and selecting the cultural interventions that genuinely support the project’s overall concept.

One real-world project will be examined in detail, from the initial brief through to implementation. This format will show how an abstract idea of “culture in the city” can take shape in practice.

What Barker Langham Brings to ARCHICA

ARCHICA will draw on the international expertise of specialists from Barker Langham, a consultancy working in cultural strategy, strategic planning and the development of projects related to art and culture.

The programme will feature Andriy Khalik, Head of Strategy; Hiba Farhat, Curator and Consultant; and Lesley Gray, Head curator, Arts.

Their experience is particularly relevant in the context of Kazakhstan, where many cities are undergoing large-scale transformation and new neighbourhoods and public spaces are being created almost from scratch. In such circumstances, it is especially important to ask in advance: what will make a new place recognisable and vibrant, rather than simply another point on the map?

The programme will conclude with a discussion of how these approaches can already be applied to urban, public and development projects.

Perhaps this is what the future of cities looks like: art is not something added once everything has been built, but something that helps shape a place from the very beginning.