Sounds of the Commons: Stories of Space and Struggle

Spatial Action Lab (OxSAL)

Walk, listen, and imagine Oxford’s shared spaces. Join this creative workshop exploring histories of enclosure and resistance.

9 Park End Street - Makespace Oxford

About the WorkshopStep into Oxford’s layered histories of enclosure, resistance, and commoning. We’ll begin with an audio-guided Commoning Walk, where historic petitions, campaigner testimonies, and contemporary community voices bring to life sites such as Wolvercote Common, Jericho Boatyard, and other spaces of shared significance. Along the way, participants will be invited to listen and reflect on what these stories mean for Oxford today.Back at Makespace, we will co-create a manifesto and develop speculative designs for a commons of the future – work that will contribute to a practice-based zine and toolkit supporting ongoing spatial justice efforts in Oxford.Light refreshments will be served at the start of the workshop.Who’s It For?Community members, organisers, researchers, students, artists, activists, and anyone curious about Oxford’s shared spaces, past and future. No prior knowledge needed.OutputsYour contributions will help build a zine and toolkit featuring radical histories, reflections, designs, and stories from the day.What to bring?<ul><li>Comfortable walking shoes</li><li>Weather-appropriate clothing</li><li>A notebook or sketchpad</li><li>Headphones and a phone for the audio-guided walk (some extra headphones will be available)</li></ul>Audience, Accessibility, and InclusionThis workshop is open to anybody who has an interest in local issues in Oxford and in community-based co-production methods. You do not have to be affiliated with the School of Geography and the Environment or the University of Oxford.We aim to make this workshop as accessible as possible. If you have any further questions about access and inclusion, please get in touch at spatialactionlab@gmail.com.