Authenti-city: How a symbol is born

The cities in our contemporary era is marked by rapid urbanization and global flows. Although, globalization has led to the debates on cultural and economic homogenization in cities, this notion was challenged with the need for urban authenticity as the asset that attracts people to cities. Authenticity as a concept is mostly attributed to the cultural historic heritage, however there is a contemporary side to the notion in which activities related with the creative economy and local production play an important role. In this panel “Authenti-city: how a symbol is born”, we examine the concept of urban authenticity and its symbolic value in the built, cultural and social environment of cities.