Urban Streams is a new international and interdisciplinary residency project that focuses on urban water and its ecological, social, and cultural significance. The project has been implemented by four EUNIC Berlin partners—the British Council, the Finland Institute, the Embassy of Ireland, and the Embassy of the Republic of Estonia—together with Spreepark Art Space Berlin.
Urban Streams focuses on artistic and creative research into urban waters—from rainfall to rivulets and sewage to rivers— and the complex challenges they face today. In addition to the effects of climate change, such as increasing periods of drought and heavy rainfall, the project also addresses urban densification, rising water demand, environmental pollution, and the limited adaptability of existing large-scale water infrastructures. In cities such as Berlin, increasing soil sealing further disrupts natural water cycles.
At the same time, Urban Streams understands urban streams as dynamic cultural and social spaces in which the interplay between urban society, natural ecosystems, and the built environment unfolds. Urban water shapes social practices, cultural narratives, and collective identities. Their maintenance, restoration, and revitalization make an important contribution to urban resilience and the quality of life of humans and non-humans alike.