CBAT The Arts & Regeneration Agency speak at Zagreb's annual Urban Festival, Croatia.

CBAT was invited by UrbanFestival 2006, Gliptoteka HAZU and The Association of Croatian Architects to speak at their conference entitled "Public space in change" which took place on 7th and 8th of September 2006. The objective was to discuss and analyse the disappearance of public space and to encourage dialogue between art historians, artists, architects, urbanists, sociologists and activists in the creation of new public spaces. Along side the discussions ran an ambitious and exciting multimedia projects comprising performances, art installations and urban interventions by performing and visual artists in abandoned, out-of use locations in the ex-industrial zone of eastern Zagreb. The festival organisers chose pieces which specifically address urban issues, performed by local and international artists who attempted to actively change the urban landscape and human behaviour patterns.

Coordinated and funded by Wales Arts International, CBAT and Gliptoteka, Project Manager Emma Price, discussed Wales’s and the UK experiences in commissioning art in the public realm and working with artists, architects and local communities. CBAT has been asked to return next year to take part in further discussions and is continuing an exciting exchanging of information with the local government, artist, architects and curators in Zagreb in their quest to establish the first public art agency in Croatia.

For further information contact Emma Price, 029 2048 8772 / emma.price@cbat.co.uk / http://www.cbat.co.uk/