ABSTRACT
In this chapter, we discuss the role of cultural institutions in the co-creation of narrative constructs that help citizens shaping the future of cities, and how the smart city rhetoric informs and influences the co-creation of such narratives in institutions such as museums. We examine the specific case of 100% Brisbane, an interactive exhibition in the Museum of Brisbane, Australia, that facilitates audiences to imagine the future city by engaging with smart-like features. We present the notion of urban imaginaries as a useful narrative construct that facilitates, on the one hand, citizen future visions of the city with the potential of enriching governance and planning practices, and, on the other hand, the identification of some shortcomings associated to the conventional smart cities discourses. The discussion examines the exhibition’s link with big data analytics, as well as the opportunities and limitations for citizens to imagine and co-create a more diverse and plural city.
