In Via Publica will convene civic actors from the arts and culture, public administration, private development, and the academy for an in-depth reflection on the many vital roles that poetics must play in public spaces today, from enriching civic life with consumption-free beauty and wonder to fostering social cohesion across differences to bolstering democratic participation and engagement. International guests representing networks such as INSITU (the European commissioning network for artistic creation in public space) and Circostrada (the European network for contemporary circus and outdoor arts) will offer models and best practices. Arts champions from within government and the private sector, including NYCDOT, NYC Parks, Brookfield Properties, and various business improvement districts will share success stories. Artists creating and performing outdoors, representing a range of artistic generations and visual and performing art forms, will exchange visions and experiences with their DTE Festival counterparts. Arts philanthropists, programmers, producers, agents, and other cultural actors will hatch plans to nurture new expressive works in this arena. Scholars and researchers will offer critical and global perspectives. Consistently with its holistic vision, the conference will take place on the campus of LaGuardia Community College; include an Open Streets performance by DTE Festival Artists Duo Sencirk; and conclude with the official launch of CUNY Stages, a consortium of venues at CUNY campuses across all boroughs. In Via Publica is developed in collaboration with Wikler Arts.