Can grassroots culture strengthen democracy? We say YES! And that’s why we’re launching the international research project #DemocracyinAction, exploring how art, cultural initiatives, and digital spaces influence political engagement.
What’s it all about? We’re diving deep into grassroots cultural organizations – from street art communities to activist nightclubs – to understand their impact on democracy. We're asking:
- Can nightlife be a space for political engagement?
- How does art support women’s rights?
- How does culture empower ethnic minorities?
- What fuels youth activism?
Who’s involved? Led by Leiden University (Netherlands), the project brings together partners from six European countries, including the Institute of Public Affairs (Poland).
Culture as a Bridge, Not a Barrier In a time of growing polarization, we’re looking for ways to connect people, not divide them. Art, music, and theater create spaces where differences don’t have to mean hostility. We’re investigating how grassroots cultural initiatives can ease tensions and foster dialogue in society.
Creative Social Mobilization We’re not just studying—we’re taking action! We’re working with cultural centers, theaters, and digital creators to experiment with new forms of social mobilization, including virtual spaces like the metaverse.
What’s the outcome? Not just theories! We aim to produce policy recommendations for decision-makers, helping them support democratic participation through culture.
#DemocracyinAction
The consortium is composed of nice partners based in six European countries: Leiden University (Netherlands), Santagata Foundation for the Economy of Culture (Italy); Jagiellonian University (Poland); Centre for the African Development Studies (Portugal); DE/MO foundation promoting democracy and culture among youth (Netherlands); National Research Council CSIC (Spain); night research and advocacy NGO VibeLab (Netherlands); Hochschule Magdeburg-Stendal (Germany); and our think-tank: Institute of Public Affairs (Poland). The consortium will collaborate with stakeholders from all EU regions as well as from the Americas, Africa, Middle East and Asia, in democratic and non-democratic contexts.
