Common Ground is part of a BIP (Blended Intensive Programmes) initiative supported by the EU’s Erasmus+ program with U!REKA Lab: Urban Commons, bringing together students and universities from the Netherlands, Belgium, Finland, Scotland, and Germany. After a month of online collaboration, we came together in Frankfurt from October 8–14, 2023, to explore socially engaged artistic practices shaped by the city’s unique social and cultural landscape.

That month of remote collaboration gave life to several projects, including the video work Common Ground in Forum, created with Iranian musician and composer Milad Dehghan. I also developed and presented a participatory performance game called “Cut, Fold, Judge” for the final exhibition, and co-created the Collective Exhibition for Anonymous Artists alongside artist and social worker Eline.

Common Ground culminated in a public exhibition on October 13 at the Frankfurt Atelier, where all works were shared through installations, live performances, and interactive experiences.

U!REKA LAB: URBAN COMMONS

U!REKA Lab: Urban Commons is a collaborative project between partner universities in Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Ghent, Helsinki, Lisbon, and Ostrava. Launched in 2019, this international and interdisciplinary initiative blends learning and research, focusing on the concept of urban commons. The lab explores co-creation practices within cities, engaging with local initiatives that shape shared urban spaces and collective experiences.