The Right to Groningen – Circuit of Commons & Three Other Community-Scale Projects

October 25 – December 20, 2025

An exhibition and project by artists Libia Castro & Ólafur Ólafsson, in collaboration with SIGN projectspace and Fiona van den Bergh (organizer, performer, and city guide). Festive opening on Saturday, October 25 at 5:00 PM!

From October 25 to December 20, SIGN presents three recent and ongoing projects by Castro & Ólafsson, showcasing their community-based, socially engaged, and intervention-driven artistic practice. SIGN will also serve as the headquarters for the Circuit of Commons Groningen, where a range of local commons contribute to an open and evolving program. Join in, take part, and let’s use SIGN as a common!

The Right to Groningen – Circuit of Commons represents the right to diversity, housing, and shared public space for self-organized social, cultural, artistic, and ecological initiatives in Groningen — creating a form of wealth that transcends monetary value.

The exhibition includes a film-in-process documenting the first intervention of The Right to Groningen – Circuit of Commons during the Groningse Onderstroom demonstration on September 27, featuring a monumental textile banner designed by Libia & Ólafur in collaboration with local sewing collectives Draadkracht, Vanhulley, and Awesome (Eindhoven).

Castro & Ólafsson’s collaboration began in Groningen, where they studied at the Frank Mohr Institute and held their first joint exhibition at SIGN in 1998. They have since built an internationally recognized practice supporting social and political movements. In 2011, they represented Iceland at the Venice Biennale with Under Deconstruction.

Works from their recent collaborations with Iceland’s constitutional movement, La Casa Invisible in Málaga, and The Right to Eindhoven – Circuit of Commons (supported by the Van Abbemuseum) will be on view. The exhibition also launches the new project The Right to Groningen – Circuit of Commons.

Program October – December 2025

Expect a dynamic program addressing socially engaged art, activism, local politics, ecology, free spaces, alternative lifestyles, and food politics — alongside performances, workshops, Queer Club Nights, reading groups, and guided city tours with Alternative Groningen Tour.

• Sat 25 Oct: Opening 17:00 – Launch of Castro & Ólafsson’s new project
• Wed 29 Oct: Get-together (18:00–22:00) with local initiatives
• Sun 2 Nov: City Tour (14:00–16:30) led by Fiona van den Bergh
• Sat 15 Nov: Discourse event (14:00–17:00) on creative space policies
• Fri 21 Nov: Art & Activism event (17:00–20:30) with Thijs Lijster and Jeanne van Heeswijk
• Sat 22 Nov: Case studies Trav12 & Paradijsvogeltuin (12:00–18:00)
• Sat 29 Nov: Workshop by Stroomversneller (14:00–18:00)

The exhibition is open from October 25 – December 20, 2025.
Opening hours: Tue–Sat 12:00–17:00, Sun 14:00–17:00. Event times may vary – check the SIGN website or follow @sign.projectspace.