Polder Parliament - co-creation, ecology and social cohesion

The artistic research project 'Polder Parliament: Artistic Co-creation, Ecology & Social Cohesion in the Hounspolder' investigates how artistic co-creative strategies can be used to foster inclusive interspecies conversations and to enhance social cohesion.

Photo: Egbert Sepp

The Hounspolder, Leeuwarden is a small but ecologically vital wetland, home to breeding meadow birds like the black-tailed godwit and lapwing. However, its future is threatened by the De Zuidlanden housing plan, which proposes large-scale development beside the polder, sparking major tensions between residents, environmental groups, and the municipality.

These tensions expose broader societal challenges emergent in peri-urban landscapes: how to reconcile competing demands – housing,  biodiversity, heritage, and resilience. They also reveal a democratic impasse and weakened social cohesion, as residents and environmental groups feel unheard and meaningful stories about local ecology remain untold.

To give these stories a voice, this project proposes a series of four art programs for residents, with partner VHDG (contemporary art podium) and artist Cocky Eek. The outcomes of the programs will feed into a Polder Parliament event and 1-day festival.

The project combines artistic research, ecological and ornithological fieldwork, ethnography, and co-creative cultural programming to cultivate social cohesion, environmental awareness, and shared stewardship.

Partners

Consortium partners: Dr. Wendy Gers (Professor Art & Sustainability, Hanze University), Dr. Imogen Humphris (researcher at Research Centre Art & Society, Hanze University) and Koen Bartijn from art iniative VHDG (Stichting Voorheen De Gemeente) in Leeuwarden and Milieudefensie Leeuwarden.

Other partners:  

• Klimaatcoalitie Fryslân: Milieudefensie Leeuwarden (consortium partner), Vogelwacht Leeuwarden, Dorpsbelang Goutum en de Molenstichting
• Artist Cocky Eek and art-science organisation FoAM (partners of VHDG)  
• Research group BirdEyes (University of Groningen)
• Friese Milieu Federatie (FMF)

Expertise and advise from Professorship Living Environment in Transition and Professorship International Business (Hanze University).  

This project is funded by Regieorgaan SIA (Co-creatie en cultuurbeoefening).