Urban Field Symposium
20. June 2026
When: June 20–21, 2026
Where: The plot of land between Stromovka Park, Kaufland department store, and the tennis courts (48.9737881 N, 14.4603306 E); Lecture Auditorium of the Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia (Branišovská 1760, 370 05 České Budějovice)
Urban Field is a project dedicated to the joint development and implementation of a collective farming model right in the center of České Budějovice. We want to shape its future together with local residents during our annual symposia. In 2026, this gathering will take place on June 20–21, directly on the site of the future Urban Field and in the lecture auditorium of the Faculty of Science at the University of South Bohemia.
The mornings of both days will be dedicated to moderated discussions and workshops with natural and social scientists. Together, we will attempt to identify the current qualities of the land and explore potential approaches for its future cultivation. Speakers will include soil ecologist Michal Choma, landscape ecologist Daria Jirků, historian Ondřej Crhák, and historian of science Michaela Nohejlová Zemková.
The afternoons will focus on summarizing these discussions, followed by plenary lectures that will introduce the opportunities and challenges of urban agriculture. Presenters will include social urban anthropologist Radan Haluzík, architect Anna Vinklárková, agroecologist and sustainable food systems expert Tomáš Uhnák, and agricultural anthropologist Anja Decker.
The goal of the entire symposium is to launch a platform that reveals the fragile relationship between the food self-sufficiency of modern cities and the agricultural activities beyond their borders. We want to show that agriculture is a part of each and every one of us—weaving through the landscape we inhabit and our shared history. Join us! Come and help us shape the Urban Field!
PROGRAM:
Saturday, June 20, 2026
9:00–12:30 – Focus Groups: The past and future of the land and its potential for collective farming across three timeframes
12:30–13:30 – Refreshment break (provided by Food Not Bombs) and transfer to the Faculty of Science auditorium (PŘF JU)
13:30–14:40 – Summary of conclusions from the morning focus groups
14:45–15:45 – Anna Vinklárková: Having a say in city development: Urban planning for everyone
15:45–16:15 – Coffee break
16:15–17:15 – Radan Haluzík: Nature in the city and the city in nature
Sunday, June 21, 2026
9:00–12:30 – Walk-along program: Three guided walks on the future Urban Field site
12:30–13:30 – Refreshment break (provided by Food Not Bombs) and transfer to the Faculty of Science auditorium (PŘF JU)
13:30–14:30 – Tomáš Uhnák: Agriculture as an urban function: Food production and governance issues
14:30–15:00 – Coffee break
15:00–16:00 – Anja Decker: Sustainability from the ground up: Invisible actors of urban change
16:00–17:00 – Discussion on the symposium's conclusions and identifying new challenges for the Urban Field project
Urban Field is one of the organizers of the Ars Biologica project.
