When the doors of Markthalle Neun open in the morning, it's not just a space in Kreuzberg that opens up – it's a gateway to the world. Because as much as a market is rooted in the local community, it thrives on movement: on the people who work here with their stories, cultures, nationalities and experiences. From products that sometimes come from the Berlin area – and sometimes from far away. Because markets also stand for the international exchange of food. And for ideas that arise through cooperation – between producers and consumers, between neighbourhoods and urban society, markets here and elsewhere.

The 12th International Public Markets Conference (IPMC), held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, from 12 to 14 June 2025, explored these topics in depth.

Organised by Project for Public Spaces and co-hosted by the Milwaukee Public Market, the conference brought together over 250 markets from 102 cities and 9 countries. Under the title More Than a Market, the focus was on how public markets around the world can reduce social isolation, strengthen local communities and economies, and promote sustainable food systems.

A particularly moving moment: The traditional Global Markets Roundup Session was organised a little differently this year. Many of our international colleagues were unable to travel to the United States due to travel restrictions or political hurdles. Instead, they sent video messages from Nepal, Australia, Vietnam, Mexico, Canada, Uganda, Latvia, Spain and India. It was a small but powerful gesture of global solidarity – and a strong sign that market culture means community worldwide, even across borders.

On Friday, 13 June, in Milwaukee, an entire day was dedicated to exchange on equal terms: at the Institute of Art & Design (MIAD), global voices met with local thought leaders to discuss the role of public markets in their respective contexts in a variety of breakout sessions. Whether panels, short presentations or practical workshops – the format was as diverse as the topics. The focus was on market management, scaling, placemaking, evaluation of market systems, mental health and much more. It was a dynamic day that sharpened the focus and opened up new perspectives.

We as Markthalle Neun were there – and not just to listen: Olga Graf shared our perspective in the panel discussion “More Than a Market: Fertile Ground for Placemaking”. She spoke about the role of markets as places of social interaction, about participation processes, educational formats such as our Kochschule Neun, and about the balancing act between public welfare and economic viability. The Berlin perspective was met with a great response – because many challenges are similar globally: rising costs, climate change affecting harvests, the extinction of small-scale farms and crafts, and a lack of political support.

In addition to exciting panels and lectures, the informal exchange with representatives from other markets was particularly inspiring: from London to New York, from Tokyo to Lima. The topics ranged from fair land allocation and public welfare-oriented financing to innovative low-waste concepts. This encourages us to continue thinking locally.

On the last day of the conference, participants headed out into the region: six excursions gave them the opportunity to experience Milwaukee's market culture and Wisconsin's agricultural diversity up close.

Particularly impressive was the Fondy Farmers Market, which has been a central anchor for Milwaukee's northern neighbourhoods for over 100 years. With more than 45,000 visitors per season, it is a lively meeting place that facilitates access to fresh, locally grown and culturally relevant food. In addition, the market supports regional farmers and small businesses, promotes community connections and contributes to a healthier lifestyle – thus acting as an important hub between producers and consumers and as a driver for the local economy.

Another highlight was the visit to Sherman Phoenix, an innovative community project in a converted bank building. This nationally recognised model stands for public welfare-oriented urban development, including economic development and sustainable prosperity in the neighbourhood. Since its opening, Sherman Phoenix has provided space for nearly 50 companies to realise their visions and strengthen the community – often through targeted advice, support and the facilitation of business start-ups, especially for people from the neighbourhood.

Each of the six tours impressively demonstrated how markets function as economic engines, cultural anchor points and lively neighbourhood meeting places. Participants were able to experience and discuss topics such as urban agriculture, entrepreneurship, the revitalisation of public spaces and market design in three Wisconsin cities – Milwaukee, Madison and Green Bay. All tours ended with a joint closing party at Zócalo Food Truck Park. There, Kelly Verel, co-executive director of Project for Public Spaces, asked perhaps the most important question of the day in her closing speech: ‘My most important question for all of you is, did you have fun?’ – which was answered with loud cheers.

And Berlin is applying! After all, what could be more obvious than bringing the next International Public Markets Conference 2027 to a city that has over 250 markets, offers a vibrant food and start-up scene – and at the same time is confronted with pressing issues of urban development, participation and justice? We believe Berlin has a lot to show – and even more to discuss and solve. The application is underway!

The example of Milwaukee shows what this can mean for a city in concrete terms: when organising each conference, Project for Public Spaces makes sure to source locally and diversely – whether for catering, technology or programme items. In Milwaukee, around $112,000 was awarded directly to local businesses and non-profit organisations. According to Visit Milwaukee, conference visitors spent an additional $283,000 during their stay – resulting in a total economic impact of over half a million dollars. Even more significant, however, is the impetus in terms of content: following the conference, a comprehensive analysis report on the local food and start-up landscape was produced with the participation of students and market players, which now serves as the basis for future projects in the city.

We would like to see similar initiatives in Berlin. A conference such as this not only puts the city on the international map, but also advances it locally – with new alliances, analyses with clear points of reference and, hopefully, many new ideas for the future of our Berlin markets.