‍Program Theme

Detroit, Michigan, USA, will be the host city for the 5th International Placemaking Week. Detroit is a city that has weathered some of the toughest place-based challenges—economic disinvestment, population decline, vacancy, and even bankruptcy—yet has emerged stronger because of its unmatched resilience and grit. Sparked by Detroit’s story, the theme for this year’s conference, “From Recovery to Resilience through Placemaking,” serves as a powerful reminder of the power of placemaking to help cities meet the many challenges of our world today. While our Call for Proposals welcomes submissions on any topic, the above theme is presented as inspiration so that you can relate your proposal to some of the key conversations we’re looking to have at this year’s event.

Session Formats

We’re offering three formats to choose from this year. Each format is unique, so please review the characteristics and expectations of each before choosing the best fit for your content.

• Hands-On Workshop (75-90 min, 1 to 2 facilitators) is interactive and focuses on teaching practical skills, strategies, and techniques. In this category, please note that we will look for innovative workshop activities that engage with the audience directly, not lecture-style presentations.
• Panel (75-90 min, 3-4 speakers + 1 moderator for an entire session) is a moderated “fireside chat” format used to spark dialogue and dig deeply into panelists’ expertise. Please note that we expect panels to include a diverse set of voices, featuring perspectives from multiple disciplines, projects, backgrounds, or cultures. We cannot accept a panel where all speakers are from the same company/organization.
• Short Talk (7 min, 1 presenter) is a single short presentation by single presenters, (perfect for telling the story about a placemaking project). Short talks are grouped together based on similar topics. Conference organizers will curate multiple short-talk sessions consisting of 6 to 7 presenters.
• Other: Feel free to propose another type of session or activity that is not listed here. For example, this can be an “unconference” style session, tour, a placemaking activation, or another interesting idea that we haven’t thought of yet!
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Proposal Submission & Evaluation

This year's application form contains a series of questions regarding the session’s content, structure, audience, and outcomes. Please note:

• You may submit up to two proposals (max) for consideration.

• Anyone with a relevant project, program, or initiative is welcome to submit a proposal. Our conference speakers have typically been made up of urban planners and designers, public space managers, academics and researchers, local government representatives, consultants, developers, community advocates, and nonprofit professionals.

• If selected to present, speakers will be expected to register at a speaker rate to confirm their place in the program. The speaker registration rate will be $295 USD, which is roughly 60% off of a regular rate registration. A “pay what you can” scholarship application will also be available for accepted speakers experiencing financial hardship.
• Proposals will be evaluated by a Review Committee, which will include individuals from participating conference partners as well as external experts in the field. Acceptance will be based on completeness and quality of the application, presenter expertise, and contribution to the discussions around the conference theme.
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Timeline

• Proposal form closes: November 20, 2025
• Review period ends: Late January 2026
• Applicants are notified of status: February 2026
• Conference registration opens: Spring 2026

We look forward to receiving your submission!
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Questions?

For questions about the Call for Proposals process, email us at info@placemakingweek.org.