Bio

Matina Magkou is a post-doc researcher at the SIC.Lab Méditerranée of the University Cote d'Azur (Nice, France). She sholds a PhD in Leisure, Communication and Culture from the University of Deusto (Bilbao, Spain). Her current research focuses on creative spaces and hubs, cultural and creative industries, cultural relations and cultural policies. She examines these through the lenses of care and fairness. She has worked for large scale-events and (Olympic Games Athens 2004, European Capital of Culture Patras 2006, International Expo Zaragoza 2008) and for public institutions such as the European Parliament, the Greek Ministry of Education and the Municipality of Athens. She has collaborated as consultant with various cultural organisations and networks (such as EUNIC, European Theater Convention, ENCATC and IN SITU) evaluating projects, facilitating learning processes and managing complex projects.

Project

Being towards the end of my post-doctoral contract, I will be working during the residency on a book proposal. Having done fieldwork on creative spaces/ cultural hubs in Greece, Spain, France, Brazil and South Africa in the period 2021-2023 I am exploring different policy support frameworks (from local to international) towards such spaces and their relationship with the city. Looking into cultural ecosystems theory, I explore collaborative practices in spaces of creativity and how they can be encouraged, further sustained and unveil their full potential for their residents and the co-creative city.