A 69 / Reconnecting the City with the River / Valyo

For the final event in this year’s series of talks and discussions exploring water as an element of public space, we have invited representatives of the Budapest-based association Valyo. This non-governmental, non-profit organisation works to make the Danube more accessible to people. It encourages active use of the river and its banks, helping to bring water and the urban landscape into everyday life. It also strengthens people’s connection to the river and their sense of place, demonstrating through practical activities how riverbanks can be used sustainably and responsibly. Engaging the local community is central to its work.

During their talk, Kata Balogh and Samu Fazekas from Valyo will share how informal gatherings of a group of friends gradually grew into a non-profit organisation that has been actively shaping Budapest and its relationship with the Danube for 15 years. Through several key projects, they will present both small-scale interventions in public space and long-term transformations of the riverbanks carried out in cooperation with the City of Budapest. The talk will also provide an opportunity for informal discussion about how cities and their residents can find new ways to reconnect with rivers and the surrounding waterscapes. We believe that much of what we hear and see during the evening can also offer inspiration for Pardubice.

We look forward to meeting you and sharing an open discussion.

The talk and discussion will be held in English.

Choose your admission price: CZK 50 / CZK 100 / CZK 150
(choose a ticket price according to your means / tickets will be available at the door)

• Kata Balogh is a cultural manager and artist working at the intersection of public space, community engagement and creative placemaking. At Valyo, she develops participatory programmes and initiatives that bring public spaces to life, helping people reconnect with urban waterways and shared spaces.
• Samu Fazekas works at Valyo as a community and project manager. He is passionate about bringing the Danube closer to the city’s residents, from projects that revitalise the riverbanks and promote urban swimming to organising an annual group canoe and kayak trip along the Danube. Around 300 people take part in the event.

Organised by Offcity, z. s., in cooperation with Divadlo 29 as part of the OFFCITY 2026 project, with financial support from the City of Pardubice, the Czech Architecture Foundation and the Czech Chamber of Architects.