Culture as a Commons: the Zine

News

29.05.2026

Last November, the three-day international symposium Culture as a Commons took place at Museion, bringing together twelve selected cultural initiatives from Italy and the Netherlands to engage in a shared reflection on a central question: how can cultural institutions and initiatives transform their social responsibility into concrete, lasting impact—beyond symbolic gestures—in a context marked by increasingly rapid ecological, social, and political transformations?

At the heart of the discussion was also a crucial question: who participates in defining this cultural mandate? Building on these reflections, the forum opened a shared working space in which practices, visions, and formats circulated beyond institutional boundaries, exploring culture as a common good and as a practice of “commoning.”

Rather than seeking definitive answers, the gathering highlighted both the potentials and limitations of contemporary cultural practices through experimental formats, porous collaborations, and subtle forms of activism. Particular attention was given to situated and responsive strategies addressing issues such as participation, sustainability, and social relevance, also in light of the redefinition of the museum proposed by the International Council of Museums (ICOM) in 2022.

In keeping with its spirit, the forum itself functioned as a commons: open, participatory, and accessible, it brought together diverse cultural actors and fostered moments of exchange, dialogue, and shared care, including informal and collective practices.

From this experience, a zine was created, gathering and reworking content, reflections, and materials that emerged during the forum. The publication is now officially available and can be browsed online, serving as an open extension of the process initiated in November and as a further invitation to share and reflect on the role of culture today.

Coordination + Production: Brita Köhler
Assistance: Laura Pernechele
Texts: Brita Köhler, Laura Pernechele, Angelica Cianflone, Silvia Maccariello
Photo credits: Samira Mosca, private collection
Motion Design: Sansculotte
Graphic Design: Silvia Maccariello

DISCOVER THE ZINE

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