The SUSTainable Artistic INnovation (SUSTAIN) project is a collaborative project between The Hague University of Applied Sciences and Avans University of Applied Sciences. The research was conducted by Jacco van Uden (professor Change Management) and Kim Caarls of The Hague University of Applied Sciences; and Godelieve Spaas (professor Common Economics), Olga Mink and Marga Rotteveel of Avans University of Applied Sciences. We also worked closely with six Spacemakers: Art Partner, Circus Andersom, Future of Work, In4Art, V2_ and Waag. SUSTAIN explores the role of Spacemakers: parties that want to contribute to systemic change by creating space for art in unusual places, such as within the economy, science or technology. The aim: to use art to work towards a sustainable and just society - ecologically, economically and socially. Expectations of what art can do in spheres other than the art world itself are sometimes high. For example, when we claim that art can be the engine of innovation and reflection. But experience shows: art is no panacea. Not everyone sees or recognises the added value of art in transition issues. And when art does come to the table, we do not always manage to make the disruption work. Artists explore the unknown, question what seems logical and connect seemingly disparate elements. It is precisely these qualities that are key to achieving systemic transitions. However, it is not always easy to access the spaces where artists want to make an impact. With this practical research, SUSTAIN offers more insight into the exact role, method and added value of Spacemakers in the transition to be made. The research and results contribute to the further professionalisation of this emerging sector. Just how Spacemaking practices are shaped by different organisations was examined: - Why do Spacemakers do what they do? - What do they see as the promise of art outside the arts? - How do they specifically go about making space for art? - How do Spacemakers deal with the tensions that arise when art gets involved in non-art matters and vice versa? - How do Spacemakers deal with the complicated question of the added value or impact of art and of themselves as space makers? SUSTAIN has produced two key outcomes: 1) The Spacemaker Toolbox, a practical tool for Spacemakers to explore and professionalise their work internally. It involves four models with instructions for use. 2) The Spacemaker Stories, a series of cahiers in which we look at Spacemaker practice from a distance and help Spacemakers articulate more clearly what they do, why they do it, how they do it and what value they create. The five cahiers are: The Calling (38 p.), The Promise of Art (39 p.), The Tension (49 p.), The Help (44 p.) and The Gift (30 p.).
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EU president Ursula von der Leyen wants Europe to tap into its inner avant-garde. In her inaugural State of the Union speech from September 16, 2020, she pledged to revive the historical Bauhaus - the experimental art school that married artistic form with functional design, founded a century ago in Weimar, Germany. Their objective was to democratize the experience of aesthetics and design through affordable commodity objects for the masses. Today, the European Union sees a chance to create a new common aesthetic born out of a need to renovate and construct more energy-efficient buildings. “I want NextGenerationEU to kickstart a European renovation wave and make our Union a leader in the circular economy,” von der Leyen said. The new Bauhaus is not just an environmental or economic project, “it needs to be a new cultural project for Europe. Every movement has its own look and feel. And we need to give our systemic change its own distinct aesthetic—to match style with sustainability. This is why we will set up a New European Bauhaus—a co-creation space where architects, artists, students, engineers, designers work together to make that happen. This is shaping the world we want to live in. A world served by an economy that cuts emissions, boosts competitiveness, reduces energy poverty, creates rewarding jobs and improves quality of life. A world where we use digital technologies to build a healthier, greener society.”
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Het project SUSTainable Artistic INnovation (SUSTAIN) is een samenwerkingsproject tussen de Haagse Hogeschool en Avans Hogeschool. Het onderzoek is uitgevoerd door Jacco van Uden (lector Verandermanagement) en Kim Caarls van De Haagse Hogeschool; en Godelieve Spaas (lector Gemeenschappelijke Economie), Olga Mink en Marga Rotteveel van Avans Hogeschool. Daarnaast hebben we nauw samengewerkt met zes Spacemakers: Art Partner, Circus Andersom, Future of Work, In4Art, V2_ en Waag. SUSTAIN onderzoekt de rol van Spacemakers: partijen die willen bijdragen aan systemische verandering door ruimte te creëren voor kunst op ongebruikelijke plekken, zoals binnen de economie, wetenschap of technologie. Het doel: met kunst werken aan een duurzame en rechtvaardige samenleving - ecologisch, economisch en sociaal. De verwachtingen van wat kunst kan betekenen in andere sferen dan de kunstwereld zelf zijn soms hooggespannen. Bijvoorbeeld wanneer we claimen dat kunst de motor van innovatie en reflectie kan zijn. Maar de ervaring leert: kunst is geen panacee. Niet iedereen ziet of erkent de meerwaarde van kunst bij transitievraagstukken. En wanneer kunst wel aan tafel komt, weten we de ontregeling niet altijd werkzaam te maken. Kunstenaars onderzoeken het onbekende, stellen vragen bij wat logisch lijkt en verbinden schijnbaar ongelijksoortige elementen. Juist die kwaliteiten zijn van groot belang voor het realiseren van systeemtransities. Het is echter niet altijd gemakkelijk om toegang te krijgen tot de ruimtes waar kunstenaars een impact willen hebben. Met dit praktijkonderzoek biedt SUSTAIN meer inzicht in de precieze rol, werkwijze en toegevoegde waarde van Spacemakers in de te maken transitie. Het onderzoek en de resultaten dragen bij aan de verdere professionalisering van deze opkomende sector. Onderzocht is hoe Spacemaking-praktijken door de verschillende organisaties worden vormgegeven: - Waarom doen Spacemakers wat ze doen? - Wat zien zij als de belofte van kunst buiten de kunsten? - Hoe gaan zij concreet te werk in het maken van ruimte voor kunst? - Hoe gaan Spacemakers om met de spanningen die ontstaan als kunst zich in niet-kunstzaken gaat mengen en andersom? - Hoe gaan Spacemakers om met de ingewikkelde vraag naar meerwaarde of impact van kunst én van zichzelf als ruimtemakers? SUSTAIN heeft twee belangrijke resultaten opgeleverd: 1) De Spacemaker Toolbox, een praktische tool voor Spacemakers om hun werk te verkennen en intern te professionaliseren. Het gaat om vier modellen met een gebruiksaanwijzing. 2) The Spacemaker Stories, een serie cahiers waarin we de Spacemaker praktijk van een afstand bekijken en Spacemakers helpen duidelijker te verwoorden wat ze doen, waarom ze het doen, hoe ze het doen en welke waarde ze creëren. De vijf cahiers zijn: De Roeping (38 p.), De Belofte van Kunst (39 p.), De Spanning (49 p.), De Hulp (44 p.) en De Gift (30 p.).
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In 2017, renowned Prof Kate Raworth from Oxford University and Amsterdam University introduced Doughnut Economics, an economic model to enable humans to thrive within the planetary boundaries and resources. Several private and public actors, including the city of Amsterdam, adopted the model in their circular economy development's strategies. Doughnut-Architecture aims to develop further the AREA (Atelier for Resilient Environmental Architecture) Framework, a tool designed by graduating students Charlotte Uiterwaal, Isabella van der Griend, Ryan McGaffney, Karolina Bäckman, at the faculty of Architecture, Delft University of Technology (TU-Delft), under the supervision of Henri van Bennekom. AREA-Framework support architects to intervene in the built environment taking as a reference the Doughnut Economics model. The AREA-Framework is at an initial stage, and its categories and subcategories are only qualitative. TU-Delft, the architectural practices Space&Matter and SuperuseStudios, in collaboration with the interdepartmental research group Circular Built Environment Hub (CBEH) and architectural practices from the network of 400 construction companies belonging to the Ex'tax project, the advice from Kate Raworth and the Amsterdam-Donut-Coalitie will further develop the AREA-Framework primarily quantitatively and also qualitatively. TU-Delft, Space&Matter, SuperuseStudios, other architectural practices from the Ex'tax-network will test the framework on different phases of real projects, interdepartmental research and education. The ultimate goal is to develop the framework further, to increase the number of architectural practices successfully implementing the Doughnut Economics in the built environment at a national level. The framework will contribute to positioning the architectural practices concerning Doughnut Economics and the Circular Economy. The project results are firstly an online open-access publication about the further developed Framework to be applied by architects; secondly, the preparation and submission of a follow-up research proposal about the extended development and implementation of the Framework applicable to the built environment by all the Ex'tax construction sector companies.
