Paper Short Abstract:

This presentation explores urban nightlife as nocturnal heritage, focusing on creative and culturally significant venues that shape urban memory despite their temporary existence. I examine how alternative nightlife spaces contribute to the city’s cultural identity through artistic expression and social engagement. The presentation looks at how these ephemeral sites influence urban heritage narratives, challenging traditional understandings of what constitutes cultural memory in the city.

Paper Abstract:

Abstract:

This presentation explores urban nightlife as a culturally significant yet often overlooked part of urban heritage. While many nightlife venues such as clubs, music spaces, and creative hubs are temporary by nature, their cultural impact often extends far beyond their physical existence. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork, policy analysis, and curatorial research from my exhibition "Who Claims the Night?" at the Estonian National Museum, I examine how culturally driven nightlife spaces - those fostering artistic expression, creative experimentation, and social engagement - leave lasting impressions on urban memory even after their closure.

The COVID-19 pandemic intensified the precariousness of these venues, leading to widespread closures and reinforcing their fragile place within the broader cultural landscape. However, the memories tied to such spaces persist, shaping how people remember and interpret the city’s past. Using examples from policy debates, media narratives, and personal recollections, I argue that these creative and community-driven spaces constitute nocturnal heritage - a cultural legacy rooted in the unique experiences of nighttime social life.

By focusing on alternative and culturally meaningful nightlife practices, this perspective broadens conventional heritage frameworks that typically prioritize permanent, tangible sites. I propose that urban heritage studies expand to include temporary and transient cultural practices, recognizing how cities are remembered not only through established landmarks but also through the fleeting yet meaningful experiences of their nocturnal environments.