This is Public: Rights to the City

To be public is to be shared. This is Public delves into the shared spaces, places and aspirations of Melburnians and their city. You’re invited to the interview recording for the fourth episode at the new podcasting studios in one of Melbourne’s most treasured waterfront public houses, The Espy.

In this episode we look at the themes emerging from Open House expanded July program – access and inclusivity in the city, specifically blindness and vision impairment in response to the Urban Tactility program.

Urban Tactility is an installation and public program exploring the sensory city and design + disability as part of the Open House Melbourne July program. Building on the thought-provoking nature of the Sensory City tours we ran in partnership with OoPLA in 2017 & 2018, the Urban Tactility installation is designed to inspire people to connect with the experience of those living with low vision and blindness and the way they navigate the city. Through associated walking tours, workshops and talks, developed in collaboration with Vision Australia, the project will directly engage multiple public communities with a focus on people living with blindness or low vision, senior adults, and children, along with the broader Open House audience.

For this episode, we will explore the underlying two-fold agenda of Urban Tactility – a chance to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes and also think about how the city can be improved and redesigned for different communities and users.

The Espy Kitchen will be open to serve to your booth, and the bar is nearby for refreshment. Come alone or with many and enjoy good food and compelling conversation.

This is Public is recorded at and supported by The Espy, and brought to life by the Metro Tunnel Creative Program, a program dedicated to enhancing city life alongside the Metro Tunnel.