COMMON LAB MANUAL
​BACKGROUND

​Text: Sotirios Bahtstezis

Common Lab was based on the methods developed by ArtBOX in the context of the project LABattoir in Thessaloniki (2017-2019, Greece). 
In LABattoir, ArtBOX combined methodologies of art for social change, post-industrial and commoning, to propose an alternative model for social and spatial practices, and production and distribution of services, as well as the creation of desirable and sustainable changes in the behaviour of individuals and communities. 

LABattoir responded to some of the major problems in Greece, proposing small but pluralistic production, a variety of standards, connection between innovation and market research, universal communication and promotion of ideas and products. Its mission was to introduce a new conception of creativity, invent new activities and practices, and engage artists and creative citizens with art, design and new forms of "social practice". The LABattoir method aimed towards:

• Τhe enhancement of existing capabilities and the acquisition of new ones, aiming to a more meaningful engagement of individuals with the expanding realm of social entrepreneurship. 
• Τhe consolidation of innovation, empowerment for self-action, and community building within real economy.
• Τhe expansion of participation and the enhancement of social cohesion through specially conceived projects for the city of Thessaloniki.

LABattoir collaborated with established universities, artists and specialised researchers, in order to map the city’s human geography, identify the problems and needs of the community and design and implement workshops, educational seminars and public projects. All these activities focused on an individualised enhancement of capabilities and offered education on novel, informal professional skills, leading towards the establishment of self-organised groups (LABs), which carried on designing and implementing long-term projects, within and beyond LABattoir. LABattoir offered those groups the possibility to co-design, use and train on special tools — a mobile studio and mobile stage which were developed through participation in the workshops offered. It also created possibilities for practical training within a controlled, safe environment or in partnership with existing structures and cultural activities aiming to test the proposed model and its resilience. LABattoir’s ultimate goal was to include creative individuals into the city’s network of production through new approaches to practices and innovative work models. 
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The implementation of LABattoir's programme was realised in partnership with Institute HyperWerk of the Academy of Art and Design of the University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW) -- since 2022 as HyperWerk LAB part of the Institute of Experimental Design and Media Cultures, which was later also involved in the Common Lab project.

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WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT LABATTOIR?
​VISIT THE PROJECT WEBSITE

LABATTOIR

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION
About Common Lab
​Background
Timeline

ACTIVITIES RATIONALE 
​Tale of X Cities & media competences for community building
State of the Arts & the digital public spheres

KEY THEORETICAL CONCEPTS
​Social innovation through art
​Art for social change
​Post-industrial design
Cultural and creative industries
Bibliography

CASE STUDY: TALE OF X CITIES
​About the case study
​Tale of X Cities key results & findings
​Lessons learned & recommendations 
Model project flow
​Media productions as evaluation tool
​Digital events and communication formats