In a frame of the Cultural and Creative Spaces and Cities (CCSC) project, Timelab and the University of Antwerp, in cooperation with European Cultural Foundation (ECF) and Trans Europe Halle (TEH), organise the hybrid co-creation lab: Common Ground: Building a Foundation for Homes of Commons. The event is free and will take place both physically in Ghent, Belgium (for a maximum of 50 people) and digitally (unlimited).
Background of the event
The event follows the previous co-creation lab that took place in June 2020: Common Sense: Let’s Build a Bottom-Up European Democracy. The central topic was how to build “Homes of Commons” as tools to bring Europe closer to citizens. A Home of Commons strives to be a hybrid—physical and digital— space of encounter between the European Union and the local level.
Already existing cultural and creative spaces have the potential to be(come) Homes of Commons. One of the proposals that came out of the previous co-creation lab, was therefore to engage existing local facilitators as Homes of Commons, and to interconnect them in a network.
The School of Commons
In this spirit, we will explore the concept of a “School of Commons” in the upcoming co-creation lab as a tool to enable the transition of local cultural and creative spaces into Homes of Commons.
Over the last 4 years, Timelab has developed a School of Commons in Ghent, based on a deep analysis of commons practices. It’s a framework to exchange knowledge and expertise about commoning, to test and prototype tools and methodologies for commoning, and to start the transition to make your organisation, project or process more commons-based.
Programme and registration
Access the detailed programme and registration for the co-creation event. The registration for both digital and physical events will be open until 25 October 2020.
About the physical event
We open our doors to a maximum of 50 participants in Timelab (Ghent, Belgium) for the physical part of the co-creation lab. The overall objective during the physical sessions will be to test and apply the tools and methodologies of the School of Commons. You can also bring in your own tools and methodologies to test how commons proof they are. Finally, you will also have the opportunity to experience parts of the School of Commons game (see note below): a methodology with gaming elements to make your own organisation, project or process more commons-based. These sessions will also be live-streamed online, with the possibility to interact.
About the digital event
Everybody is welcome to join the digital part of the co-creation lab. The overall objective during the digital sessions will be to think together about:
How can a School of Commons enable the transition of local and cultural spaces into Homes of Commons, starting from real cases (Urban Labs involved in the CCSC project)?
How can Schools of Commons be reproduced and how can the network grow?
How can a School of Commons be implemented on a local, national, and European level?
Do Schools or Homes of Commons need to be certified and if yes, by whom?
These sessions will also be shown live in Timelab with the possibility to interact with the on-site participants.
NOTE: Participation in the full School of Commons deep dive experience is possible the week before the co-creation lab in Timelab, Ghent, from 18-23 October 2020. For more information, check the School of Commons: deep dive into patterns and tools for commoning.