With more than half the world’s population now living in urban areas, the Museum of London’s major free exhibition for 2017 asks how and why cities around the world are changing, and what urban communities are doing to improve city life. The museum will also dare its visitors to become actively involved in changing their own city and have a say on the future of urban living. 

The exhibition, The City is Ours, sits at the heart of City Now City Future; a year-long season of exhibitions, creative commissions, large-scale public events, talks and debates which will tackle these questions. Originally created by the Cité des sciences et de l’industrie in Paris, this is the first exhibition at the Museum of London to be presented in both English and French. The exhibition is split into three sections – Urban Earth, Cities Under Pressure and Urban Futures – and will be spread across three gallery spaces.

Urban Earth is a 12-minute infographics film that presents data from megacities such as London, Sydney, Tokyo, New York, Shanghai, Dubai, Cairo and Sao Paolo, to visually compare these cities on issues such as population size, public transport networks, CO2 emissions, green spaces, wealth, access to health care, and life expectancy.

In Cities Under Pressure, a set of digital and physical interactives provide an overview of the risks, challenges and demands placed on global cities today such as the constant increase in urban populations, how to effectively share inhabited spaces, the use of digital technology and pressures on transport, infrastructure and the environment.

Urban Futures presents the ideas and initiatives being developed around the world by governments, businesses, communities and individuals to combat the various challenges that increasing urbanisation poses to these cities and their inhabitants. Explained through a series of short films, case studies include Medellin, once one of the most dangerous cities in the world but now a model for social cohesion with the introduction of a free cable car system, and Copenhagen, the greenest city in Europe which is building a sustainable future by introducing more cycle lanes than car lanes.

In addition to the content from the original Parisian exhibition, the Museum of London has also selected 25 innovative projects taking place across London which all aim to improve city life for their local communities. Ranging from growing projects and sustainable food schemes, to state-of-the-art technological ventures and charities promoting community cohesion, information and images about these London initiatives will be mapped on an interactive table so visitors can learn more. They will also be pinned on a physical map of London which visitors will be encouraged to populate themselves during the six-month run of the exhibition with information on projects taking place in their local area. The Museum of London has also commissioned a five-minute film for the same gallery which will present scenarios, stories, dreams and ideas about possible futures for London.

Foteini Aravani, Digital Curator at the Museum of London, said: “The City is Ours examines the advantages, disadvantages, joys and frustrations of city life sparking debate and discussion about the future of city life for Londoners and people around the world.  From looking at cities like Copenhagen and Medellin to Songdo and of course, London, there will be a call to action for every citizen to get inspired and to become more engaged in the city they live in.”

Every Thursday from 1-2pm, the London initiatives will present their work on making London a more sustainable place to live in the form of a walk, talk or workshop with the aim of encouraging visitors to get more involved in their local communities.