Our ‘Economic Cycles’ trajectory looks at strategies towards alternative economies and economic structures. Looking to the foundations that have been laid (theoretically and in practice) by feminist economies, solidarity economies, commons-based economies, circular economies, skill-and-labour exchange economies, and the in-depth study of networks and strategies that have previously worked with alternative economic models, such as UBI in the Arts, Lumbung practices, and Collective Pot Management. With an ultimate goal to move away from reliance on institutional and governmental support, and with a mindfulness towards mutual support networks and resources, we ask: how can this be made into a tangible economic reality?
This cycle, and Open Book format is rooted in the research and practice of Sepp Ecknehaussen’s existing work on (post) precarity, and departs from his upcoming title, set to be published with HumDrumPress in late 2025, “Art Beyond Precarity”.
How can new or revised approaches towards our modes of relation-building, communicating, and ‘being-together’, be adapted and enacted as part of expansive publishing processes? The ‘Interrelational Knowledge Cycles’ trajectory will look at questions and strategies towards relation-based practices, network building and maintenance, and establishing support structures based upon care-informed social arrangements and practices. This will include research into alternative communication styles, including horizontal, non-violent, trauma-informed, and verbal and non-verbal approaches, emotional, social and care-based infrastructures, and how publishing practices can be embedded within, and built upon, supportive infrastructures of social networks and interpersonal modes of organising.
Moreover, how can new or revised approaches towards ‘knowledge’, and how knowledge is produced and shared for a core part of these interrelational networks? Through this open question we aim to explore questions and strategies towards alternative ways of working, as well as knowledge production and dissemination methods that sit outside of traditional hierarchy-driven, Western-centric, individualised approaches. Experimenting with how we can (re)consider what is constituted as ‘knowledge’, how knowledge is presented, made public and circulated, how knowledge-production can be understood as a non-linear, expansive, cyclical practice and how intergenerational, intercultural, and interdisciplinary approaches can be integrated into the knowing-production process.
This cycle is rooted in the research and practice contained in Claire Tio and Yusser al Obaida’s upcoming publication “The Masters’ Tools”, as well as Catwings ongoing co-creation publication with HumDrumPress on abolitionist practices and principles.
Find out more about the Conspiratory Study Group Catwings x Clublokaal x HumDrumPress residency here.
How can revised approaches towards an expanded notion of ‘sustainability’ be adopted and enacted as part of expansive publishing processes? The ‘Ecological Cycles’ trajectory will look at questions and strategies surrounding sustainability, in terms of resource-management, social sustainability, economic sustainability, working-practices, and temporal sustainability. It explores how publishing can become considered a sustainable practice in terms of ecological commitments (nature-led and natural processes and seasonal cycles), time and capacity commitments, (slow publishing, durational publishing, publishing following seasonal outputs), and locality, (building local, sustainable roots, community outreach and engagement, long-term situated publishing).
This cycle is rooted in the research and practice of Katerina Sidorova whose work departs from seasonal cycles and their natural overlap with processes of grief and mourning, as reflected upon in her upcoming publication with HumDrumPress “The Complete Gardener’s Companion to Grief”.