Street Art in Cities: Opportunities and Limits
Thursday 25/6/2026, 11:00–17:00
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE WALLZ 2026
The international conference WALLZ 2026: Street Art in Cities: Opportunities and Limits opens up the topic of the role of art in public space across Czechia and abroad. The programme is intended for creators, producers, and representatives of local governments, and focuses on sharing experience, approaches, and possibilities for collaboration. During the day, expert contributions and panel discussions dedicated to locations and regulation, working with artists, and project financing will be heard. The emphasis is placed on connecting participants, sharing best practices, and exploring ways to meaningfully develop street art in space that serves everyone without distinction.
PROGRAMME
10:00–11:00
CONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS REGISTRATION
11:00–11:10
CONFERENCE OPENING
Jan Štěpán: Programme Director of DEPO2015, Pilsen
Kristýna Jirátová: Art historian and curator at DEPO2015 Creative Zone, Pilsen
Eliška Bartáková: Councillor for Culture and Heritage Preservation, historian, City of Pilsen
11:15–11:35
STREET ART IN CZECHIA
How is street art developing in Czechia, what overlaps has it got with education, curatorial practice, and public projects, and how can it be meaningfully connected to the urban environment? Experience from the Czech context and relationships with cities, communities, and institutional frameworks will help reveal the answers.
Ondřej Horák: Curator and author of exhibition, educational, and socially engaged projects, Atrium Gallery, Prague
11:40–12:00
STREET ART WITHOUT BORDERS: INSPIRATION ACROSS THE WORLD
An international perspective on street art, focusing on experience from Germany and other countries, offers inspiration from projects connecting film, publishing, exhibitions, and working with communities. They show how street art can be developed in different cultural and institutional contexts and how sharing approaches supports documentation, collaboration, and the development of urban culture across Europe and the world.
René Kaestner: Producer and curator at Hallenkunst Chemnitz
12:00–13:00
NETWORKING LUNCH
Conference lunch is not just a break, but an opportunity to meet across disciplines and cities. When you register, we will divide you up using color codes so that people who might not otherwise meet sit at the same table. Join in the conversations, share experiences, and look for new connections.
There will also be an “IDEA WALLZ” – a space for messages, questions, project tips, inspiration, collaboration offers. Let's use food as a means of gaining real value, namely connecting people.
13:00–13:45
BOUNDARIES OF THE CITY, BOUNDARIES OF ART
Has street art got rules? This panel discussion will focus on possibilities of implementation of art in the city and the role of heritage zones and other restrictions. It will also explore the search for balance between regulation, context, and creative use of space.
Reiner Meyer: Head of the Department of Culture, City of Regensburg
Pavel Nutil: Deputy Mayor, City of Planá
Pavel Bosák: Deputy Mayor, City of Pilsen
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13:45–14:00
RESIDENTS AS CONNECTORS
The strength of civic initiatives, volunteering, and projects capable of transforming public space, even without direct involvement of local government, is evident. How can the ideas of active residents connect institutions, schools, and community participants, and grow into projects with significant social impact, even beyond national borders? Sometimes, quite simply.
Míša Valášková: Active citizen, Ústí nad Labem
14:00–14:15
BREAK
14:15–15:15
WHO PAYS FOR ART IN THE CITY?
How are public space projects financed in practice, and what co-financing models are currently used? The discussion will focus on the role of the non-profit sector, donors and sponsors, local governments, and private companies, as well as how these sources can be effectively combined. The aim is to open up the topic of sustainability in cultural projects and present specific possibilities for their implementation.
Aleš Kozák: Director of ProPamátky, Prague
Tomáš Štěpánek: Head of Cultural Services, Department of Culture, City of Brno
Jan Illich: Public Sector Representative, Public Sector Relations Department, ČEZ, Pilsen
Jindřich Skrip: Marketing Director, Kooperativa Insurance, Prague
Markéta Tomčíková: Head of the Department of Education, Culture and Sports, City of Mladá Boleslav
15:15–15:30
BREAK
15:30–16:30
WORKING WITH ARTISTS
How to collaborate effectively with artists in public space, what to expect from them, and what they need from commissioners, institutions, and cities. This session will focus on practical aspects of collaboration, communication, commissioning processes, and the reality of creative work, including the topic of the artist’s status.
Petr Hájek: Urban Pictus – a platform focused on the implementation and curation of mural art and art in public space, Prague
Lukáš Kladívko: Artist, curator, and director of the urban art project City=Gallery, Central Bohemian Region
Romana Junkerová: Co-founder of the Street Art Festival Olomouc
Anna Hrabáčková: Head of the Public Diplomacy Department of the Czech Centers, Prague
16:30–16:45
CLOSING SESSION
The conclusion will offer a summary of key outcomes and open up possibilities for further collaboration and networking–activities across Czechia, communication platforms, groups, and social media that allow participants to stay connected even after the event.
The main programme will be hosted by Saša Michailidis with the support of interpreters.
photo source: KVIFF
