Compos(t)ing, a Regenerative Creative Practice Symposium

Positive change

Compos(t)ing is a participatory and inspiring event designed to uncover the meaning and scope of regenerative design. It offers a platform for learning and exploration through diverse creative practices. The symposium addresses the urgent need for a regenerative economy, highlighting the essential role of the arts and design sector in driving innovation and positive change. The primary goal is to develop and share knowledge, methods, skills, and fresh ideas in regenerative design.

The symposium is intended for teachers, researchers and students who are interested in regenerative design. HKU lecturer-researchers Martijn van Gessel and Anke Jongejan are involved through the minor Arts & Ecology.

Reimagine the potential

Central to the symposium is a showcase of regenerative creative practices presented through multiple breakout sessions. These sessions will explore thematic threads such as Regenerative Economies, More-than-human Ecologies, and Transforming Didactic Skills through Regenerative Pedagogies.

Martijn van Gessel and Anke Jongejan will each lead a breakout session. Martijn will discuss regenerative artistic practices and how gardening can be an art form, while Anke will focus on regenerative education, also sharing insights about the minor Arts & Ecology. By bringing together diverse perspectives and practical insights, the symposium invites attendees to reimagine the potential of regenerative practices and education in shaping a sustainable future.

Regenerative culture and economy


The cases presented during the symposium demonstrate a shift from an extractivist cultural and economic framework that has long dominated the planet's flows of matter and information. They point toward a regenerative culture and economy urgently seeking a pathway to a habitable world for future generations of both human and other-than-human beings.

Compos(t)ing is an interdisciplinary collaboration, co-curated by educators and researchers from HKU, Willem de Kooning Academy, Academy of Theatre and Dance Amsterdam AHK, Centre of Applied Research for Art, Design and Technology Avans CARADT and Nieuwe Instituut.

Tickets will go on sale at the end of February, but you are welcome to reserve your spot using the following link.

For more enquires about the symposium, contact Martijn van Gessel: martijn.vangessel@hku.nl