Art Spaces Release Toolkit for Inclusive Practices
Five European art organizations have jointly published a free resource designed to help cultural institutions become more accessible and equitable, addressing challenges in hospitality, alliance-building, and conflict resolution.
New Glossary Aims to Democratize Art Engagement
A new publication, “We Cannot Say That We Have Arrived Somewhere, Yet Neither Can We Say That We Haven’t: A Glossary of Commoning Terms,” offers practical guidance for cultural workers navigating the complexities of community-based and participatory art projects. The glossary synthesizes lessons learned from organizations working at the intersection of visual art, social work, and activism.
The resource, available in six languages – Albanian, Czech, English, German, Hungarian, and Spanish – tackles critical themes like self-empowerment, emotional labor, anti-ableism, and intersectionality. It’s freely accessible for download in various formats, including print-at-home and EPUB, at emotional-labor.eu.
Addressing Barriers to Access
The glossary provides organizers with strategies for working with communities in remote areas, managing disagreements, and adapting spaces and programs to better serve diverse populations. **Iwo Maciak** edited the volume, with project management by **Max Dvořák**. Contributors include **Alba Colomo**, **Nikolett Erőss**, **Eszter Lázár**, **Anton Lederer**, **Rita Kálmán**, **Ajete Kërqeli**, **Clara Piazuelo**, and **Tereza Stejskalová**.
According to a 2024 report by the National Endowment for the Arts, 47.7% of U.S. adults participated in at least one benchmark arts activity, but participation rates remain significantly lower among individuals with disabilities and those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. https://www.arts.gov/news/2024/new-data-show-arts-engagement-remains-strong-us-adults
Art Space Unlimited Initiative
The publication stems from the Art Space Unlimited project, a collaborative effort by tranzit.cz (Prague, Czech Republic), < rotor > (Graz, Austria), OFF-Biennale (Budapest, Hungary), La Escocesa (Barcelona, Spain), and Shtatëmbëdhjetë (17) (Prishtina, Kosovo). The project, co-financed by the European Union, ran from 2024 to 2025 with the goal of opening institutions to individuals facing barriers to art, whether as creators, participants, or viewers.
The glossary is intended for cultural workers in not-for-profit organizations such as art galleries, artist-in-residence programs, community centers, and interdisciplinary venues.
“The views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the EACEA. Neither the European Union nor the EACEA can be held responsible for them.”
The content is licensed under Creative Commons (CC) Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International, allowing for broad use with appropriate attribution and for non-commercial purposes.
Looking ahead, this glossary represents a vital step toward fostering more inclusive and responsive art spaces, encouraging a broader and more equitable participation in the cultural landscape.
