Work in the cultural sector is often marked by precarity and a general lack of financial stability. Artists and cultural workers face unstable working conditions, with limited public funding or support, leading to unsustainable practices. In contrast, making cultural work more social and sustainable requires shifting from a mindset of scarcity to one of abundance—both in resources and trust within the community.
With a collective of eleven professionals in and around film are currently developing Het Filmlokaal: a collective cinema in Rotterdam, NL, with which we propose an innovative approach to bridging this gap by applying the concept of the commons and its practical governance tools to cultural production. Drawing inspiration from Ostrom’s principles of governing the commons and sociocratic governance methods, we strive to create a model for how cultural spaces can be sustained through collective stewardship. By establishing a cinema as a commons, we challenge the scarcity-driven logic that dominates the cultural sector. Instead, we aim to create an environment where cultural workers and communities can collaboratively steward resources, whether in the form of programming, skills, or equipment. This co-governed, co-owned space addresses key social dilemmas in the creative industries, such as resource allocation, decision-making, and long-term sustainability.
Het Flimlokaal engages locals, filmmakers, and cultural workers to co-curate programs, share knowledge, and contribute resources. We also explore alternative financial models like pay-what-you-can ticketing and time-banking, ensuring accessibility while reducing financial strain. By cultivating trust and community, the cinema transcends traditional market-driven or state-funded models, moving toward a regenerative model of cultural commons.
This project will discuss the application of commons-based governance in the cultural sector, offering a practical case study that contributes to ongoing discussions on polycentric governance and collective action dilemmas. We hope this case study will enrich discussions on regenerating the commons in arts and culture.
