The Placemaking Round-Up
A biweekly newsletter with public space news, resources, and opportunities.
The Biweekly Bazaar
A curated dispatch on all things public markets plus the latest announcements from the Market Cities Program.
A biweekly newsletter with public space news, resources, and opportunities.
A curated dispatch on all things public markets plus the latest announcements from the Market Cities Program.
We are thrilled to announce that Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, will be the host city for the 12th International Public Markets Conference, June 12-14, 2025!
After taking place in cities like Barcelona, London, and Toronto, the conference will now head to Milwaukee, where we can't wait to discover the culture, charm, and market creativity of the Culinary Capital of the Midwest.
Every two years, Project for Public Spaces hosts this prestigious event, the largest global gathering for public market professionals that serves as a hub for learning, networking, and exploring cutting-edge practices in a host city where you can see exemplary models in action.
Our co-host, the Milwaukee Public Market, is Milwaukee’s iconic food and event destination, home to 19 independently-owned vendors that feature a diverse array of offerings, from Wisconsin staples like cheese curd and brats, to a rich selection of ethnic cuisines and specialty grocery items.
“We are delighted to have the International Public Markets Conference come to the great city of Milwaukee,” said Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson. “We look forward to welcoming an international crowd and showcasing our outstanding placemaking initiatives, including our city's public markets, which have been key to driving our city's economic and community growth, making Milwaukee a flourishing place to live, work, and play.”
Whether or not you’re familiar with Brew City, may you arrive hungry and leave with a taste for Milwaukee!
Milwaukee's unique blend of markets and community-focused spaces makes it an ideal setting for this international conference. Here are a few reasons why we’re excited about Milwaukee:
Recognized in 2024 by USA Today as the No. 1 Best Public Market in the United States, Milwaukee Public Market is billed as "a gathering place where great taste is always in season.” An ideal conference partner, Milwaukee Public Market not only aims to create inclusive economic opportunities, but to bolster social connection and well-being as a community anchor.
Owned and operated by the Historic Third Ward's Business Improvement District #2, the Milwaukee Public Market gives back and supports its community as a founding principle. The Market has been pivotal in boosting economic development, community well-being, and placemaking in the neighborhood since its inception in 2005. The Market supports Wisconsin’s Schools-to-Work Program that trains students with special needs in job skills, hosts the Riverwalk Commons Concert Series with free live music under the I-794 freeway, and annually collaborates with local charities through the Market on a Mission Grant to aid underserved youth and residents.
We are thrilled to partner with an institution that supports its community in so many ways!
The theme for this year’s conference, Public Markets for Every City, serves as a powerful call to action for market leaders, placemakers, and policymakers worldwide to recognize the transformative influence of public markets in shaping vibrant and inclusive urban spaces. This theme aligns with the mission of Project for Public Spaces’ Market Cities Program, which believes that when an area’s entire ecosystem of public market managers, vendors, food producers, and food systems advocates are connected, they are better able to understand local challenges and opportunities. This connection helps them identify more effective strategies to strengthen all local public markets as crucial sources of food and goods, economic opportunity, and cultural exchange.
Milwaukee’s vibrant market scene, boasting over 30 vibrant public markets, will provide the perfect backdrop for welcoming over 400 leaders and advocates. The conference will spotlight Milwaukee's diverse public markets, including the Milwaukee Public Market, West Allis Farmers Market, Fondy Farmers Market, Milwaukee Night Market, and Zocalo Food Truck Park. It will also introduce two exciting new additions to Wisconsin’s public market scene: the Green Bay Public Market and the Madison Public Market, both slated to open in spring 2025. Attendees will see firsthand how these markets contribute to vibrant neighborhoods and local economies.
While recent conferences have been hosted in cities with three to five times the metropolitan population of Milwaukee, the 12th International Public Markets Conference will offer the chance to collectively envision a future where public markets thrive in every city, ensuring their benefits are accessible to all, regardless of city size or population.
Milwaukee offers a case study in how market initiatives can enhance equitable access to fresh food and community resources. The Fresh Food Access Fund, WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program, and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program all aim to connect underserved and low-income residents to healthy, affordable produce. Additionally, programs like MKE Market Match and community spaces such as Sherman Phoenix work to make healthy food more affordable and foster economic growth and social change, ensuring inclusivity across diverse populations.
Milwaukee excels in placemaking, promoting a sense of inclusivity and connectivity among its nearly 600,000 residents and earning it the affectionate nickname “Smallwaukee.” This small-town feel is fueled in part by the placemaking initiatives of active Business Improvement Districts (BIDs), such as the Historic Third Ward BID, which revitalizes underutilized spaces with initiatives like pickleball courts and programming events.
The city also benefits from strong community engagement, exemplified by Alice’s Garden Urban Farm, which turns vacant lots into thriving community hubs, and the Friends of Cathedral Square, which enhances Cathedral Square Park with public art and events. Likewise, nonprofit bikeshare Bublr helps foster community engagement by offering an inclusive system with affordable rates, accessible features, and adaptive cycles for riders with disabilities. In addition, the City of Milwaukee and nonprofits like the Urban Ecology Center, which transforms neglected green spaces into urban parks, are heavily engaged with placemaking initiatives throughout the city to create community-powered public spaces that benefit all.
Attendees will have the opportunity to learn how Milwaukee’s inclusive placemaking practices have created vibrant, community-oriented spaces that uplift and fortify diverse neighborhoods.
This conference will take place as Project for Public Spaces celebrates its 50th anniversary and Milwaukee Public Market celebrates its 20th anniversary. Project for Public Spaces has dedicated five decades to creating successful public places worldwide through community-centered placemaking, influencing over 3,500 communities across 52 countries.
Similarly, the Milwaukee Public Market has served as a vibrant community hub, enriching Milwaukee's Historic Third Ward with diverse culinary experiences and community engagement and programs. Both organizations share a vision of transforming public spaces into inclusive, community-powered environments, making this conference a fitting tribute to our ongoing impact and collaborative spirit!
We look forward to seeing you in Milwaukee June 12-14, 2025, and exploring the incredible impact of public markets together! In the meantime, mark your calendars for our Call for Proposals and Early Registration:
Call for Proposals
Our Call for Proposals application form will open on October 9, 2024 and we will provide a live informational webinar to support the process on October 17, 2024. We will share details on how to apply and how to sign up for the webinar, via our Market Cities Newsletter (sign up below!).
Early Registration
Early conference registration will open in February 2025 on our website. We will also provide a limited number of scholarships via a Pay What You Can application process for those who demonstrate need for support to cover the cost of registration.
Sign up for our Biweekly Bazaar newsletter to be the first to learn about our Call for Proposals launching October 9, 2024, save on Early Bird Registration, and get sneak peeks of the schedule lineup and helpful tips to prepare your visit to Milwaukee!
To sponsor the 12th International Public Markets Conference, download our sponsorship package here or email IPMC@pps.org.
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