Who we are

Street Studies is the city planner's and architect's expanded toolbox that promotes citizen engagement and creative elements in urban spaces. Street Studies a non-profit organization working to ensure creative city-making through the use of art and active citizenship. Established in 2012, we have pioneered urban art and creative placemaking in Denmark. We focus on the development of creative urban spaces with edge, especially within the areas of art for public safety, international mural art and citizen-driven processes.

OUR History

Humble beginnings over a cup of coffee

In the summer of 2012, Steffen Gray pursued his belief - that culture and creativity can change the identity of a local environment, create pride and security, and give young people in the area a purpose. Steffen sought out Maher Khatib, the housing social coordinator for Ringsted, and quickly found a committed cultural creator and sparring partner in him. On a sunny day, on the bench outside Maher's office they turned ideas over several cups of instant coffee. And there, between the housing blocks emerged the idea of ​​a street art association, Street Studies.

Over the course of the next year, Street Studies began finding its place among the community and building a name among the locals. What emerged was a small dedicated team including crime prevention experts who saw the potential of how creative drive could contribute to buzzing and safer local environments, ultimately leading to greater social cohesion in the area.

Chomping at the bit to bring their ideas into practice, the small team set out on their first project: a creative “paint a canvas” workshop for kids in the Sønderpark housing projects. This positive hum spread and shortly thereafter the team expanded, adding a street sports organizer, then an urban planner….an architect…a sociologist…and so on.

Born from those cups of coffee and first painting canvas workshop is 8 years and over 50+ projects and the Street Studies current engagement in community engagement, public policy, creative placemaking, events, workshops, public art, curating and more!  Street Studies' soul lies in our people, and today we are over 100 freelance specialists, enthusiasts, volunteers, and project makers. Our belief is that the creativity of the city's spaces creates security, pride and cohesion. That is our common passion.