Commons Sense: Let’s Create a Bottom-Up European Democracy - digital co-creation lab

In a frame of the Cultural and Creative Spaces and Cities (CCSC) project, European Cultural Foundation and the University of Antwerp, with a special contribution of l’Asilo, are organising a digital co-creation lab Commons Sense: Let’s Create a Bottom-Up European Democracy. The digital event will take place on the 22nd and the 29-30th of June. The Co-Creation Lab is free, but we ask you to register here.

In times of crisis, change is more likely to thrive. To make this change happen, investing in culture, as a tool for social transformation, is crucial. How can we make sure that the cultural sector enters the post-Covid-19 reality with a new, stronger voice?

We believe that the future of culture concerns Europe as a whole – where there is no culture, there is no Europe either. Let’s bring Europe closer to the very local experiences of cultural workers and to their local initiatives for solidarity in cities – let’s create a more just future of culture.

In this digital co-creation lab, we will explore new ‘homes of commons’, as spaces of encounter between EU and local level: how can the EU learn from local realities and how can local actors be empowered to take part in EU decision making?

Let’s build the cornerstones of our ‘homes of commons’: their participatory tools, their physical and/or digital spaces, their administrative structures.

Together we will explore the following challenges

1. The commons as ecosystems for culture after Covid-19
How can the EU support commons as ecosystems for the growth and sustainability of cultural work, as the base of society? In the wake of Covid-19 crisis, Europe has the opportunity to act as a source of protection for cultural actors and cultural and creative spaces.

2. Co-creating cultural policies in cities to foster cohesion and inclusion
How can the EU promote and empower ways of co-creation on cultural policies in cities?
How can the EU contribute to making cultural policies in cities more inclusive and equitable? And finally, how can cultural policies benefit from cross-sectoral approaches and from the cooperation with other areas (education, health, built environment, innovation, etc)?

3. Building spaces of encounter between local and EU level
How can we design spaces of encounter – both physical and digital – where the EU can learn from local realities, accompany their participatory processes and involve them in decision-making?

Convinced on the necessity of working together in complete openness and cooperation on these topics, we invite you to join us in a 3-days co-creation lab: on the 22nd, 29th and 30th of June.

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: 20 June. Don’t hesitate to sign up though – the tickets are limited.