The 10th International Public Markets Conference also marked the creation of a Market Cities initiative at Project for Public Spaces. PPS has been supporting public markets through education and technical assistance for more than 30 years, training market managers and vendors, conducting visioning processes and feasibility assessments, and constructing business plans tailored to new and existing public markets. Now, that work is scaling up to the regional level, with Project for Public Spaces working to create robust networks of markets in cities across the world. Through public engagement, strategies for management and governance, and analysis of market systems, the Market Cities initiative will support new and growing networks of public markets.

Breakout sessions at the conference engaged participants on topics like markets as incubators for entrepreneurship, data-driven advocacy, and the power of using placemaking to make markets into community destinations. Attendees discussed markets through the lens of inclusion and health, and exchanged ideas about how markets can maintain authenticity while adapting to changing trends and community needs. Speakers like London’s Night Czar, Amy Lamé, also covered the importance of markets in supporting a growing night time economy. 

Digging deeper, participants attended various “unconferences” at City Hall, workshopping ideas on everything from how markets can adapt to the climate crisis to thoughtful approaches to market security. A farmers market in Delaware shared thoughts on the value of sales-boosting experimentation in a farmers market, while delegates from New York City discussed using markets to build resilience after Hurricane Sandy. In the context of these collaborative talks, attendees highlighted their broad range of experiences in designing, managing, and programming markets, ultimately creating a set of exciting new approaches to shared challenges. 

Building on the conversations from panel and unconference sessions, participants toured markets across London, from Brixton Market in Lambeth to Surrey Street Market in Croydon. The tours gave way to in-depth conversations on the impacts of tourism, the role of public-private partnerships, and best practices for revitalizing historic markets. By exploring London through the lens of its incredibly diverse public markets, participants were able to take away new strategies and approaches to use in their own markets work.

The 10th International Public Markets Conference built on the momentum of London’s growing markets network to kickstart a conversation about how markets can continue to grow and serve their communities.