Foundation We Are

Foundation We Are Institute for unexpected collaborations.

Foundation We Are initiates, curates and researches collaborations between creatives and experts on societal transitions.

➡️ New exhibition coming up soon.We would like to invite you to our upcoming exhibition “The Collective Response – Desig...
31/08/2026

➡️ New exhibition coming up soon.
We would like to invite you to our upcoming exhibition “The Collective Response – Design for Shared Action” at Foundation We Are.

The exhibition will have its opening event on 18 September 2026 at 18:00 and will run throughout Dutch Design Week and extend until 3 January 2027.

At a moment when the structures and communities that support solidarity and societal wellbeing are under pressure, “The Collective Response” asks what it means to come together.

The exhibition brings together different approaches to collectiveness, exploring how collective action can create more inclusive societies and how working together can strengthen us socially and economically. The presented works highlight what we can learn from the ways creatives collaborate, organise, and build communities.

Through these perspectives, the exhibition invites visitors to reflect on the state of our world, while encouraging us to consider how we can participate in collective action ourselves.

The exhibition will showcase works by:
YAMUNA FORZANI KNITTED ART, Extra Practice, Questions Collective, Bureau Burgerberaad

Opening:
18 September 2026, at 18:00

Exhibition duration:
18 September 2026 – 3 January 2027

Opening hours:
Wednesday – Monday: 10:00 – 17:30
During Dutch Design Week (17 – 25 October): 9:00 – 18:00

Location:
Foundation We Are, Torenallee 22-04, Strijp-S, 5617 BD Eindhoven

15/07/2026

The Open Call for the third edition of the SEED Traineeship Programme is officially live!

Are you a recent graduate ready to kick-start your career in social design? Or do you know someone who is? This six-month traineeship offers the opportunity to gain hands-on experience at a leading social design studio or organisation, while working on projects that create meaningful impact.

Applications are open until 24 July 2026.

Know someone who shouldn't miss this opportunity? Share this post and help us spread the word.

Apply now via link in bio.

15/07/2026

The Open Call for the third edition of the SEED Traineeship Programme is officially live!

Are you a recent graduate ready to kick-start your career in social design? Or do you know someone who is? This six-month traineeship offers the opportunity to gain hands-on experience at a leading social design studio or organisation, while working on projects that create meaningful impact.

Applications are open until 24 July 2026.

Know someone who shouldn't miss this opportunity? Share this post and help us spread the word.

Apply now via link in bio!

Last month, we gathered for the sixth edition of Common Grounds to explore an urgent question: What is the role of the c...
01/07/2026

Last month, we gathered for the sixth edition of Common Grounds to explore an urgent question: What is the role of the city in collective well-being?

At a time when mental health and emotional well-being are under increasing pressure, we came together to reflect on how care can be approached collectively and how our cities, communities, and creative practices can help shape more caring futures.

Through artistic interventions and inspiring conversations, we explored new perspectives on mental health, care, and the city as a place for connection and collective well-being.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us, shared their experiences, and contributed to the conversation. These moments remind us that care is not only the responsibility of institutions, but something we can collectively imagine and build together.
And aspecial thank you to Daisy Dawson, Anika Etman, Mila Chorbadzhieva, Tim Hulshof, Debbie Straver, Gjilke Keuning, Manon van Hoeckel, and our moderator Femke Hoppenbrouwer for their insights and inspiring contributions.

pictures by Barbra Medo

Last chance to join us!This Wednesday, we’re bringing together practitioners, researchers, creatives, policymakers, and ...
15/06/2026

Last chance to join us!

This Wednesday, we’re bringing together practitioners, researchers, creatives, policymakers, and community builders to explore an important question:

"What is the role of our cities when it comes to our mental health and wellbeing?"

It is time for a more collective approach to mental health and we think that the city of Eindhoven can play a role in that. At the Common Grounds you will join us for this interactive conversation as we try to shape new ideas, ways of thinking and strategies for mental health and wellbeing in our cities.

We're excited to be joined by Daisy Dawson, Anika Etman, Mila Chorbadzhieva, Tim Hulshof, Debbie Straver and Manon van Hoeckel, with moderation by Femke Hoppenbrouwer.

📅 17 June 2026
🕒 15:30 – 17:30
📍 Foundation We Are, Torenallee 22-04, Eindhoven

You can reserve your free ticket via link in bio.

We look forward to seeing you there and continuing the conversation!

We are looking for an all-round Communications & Production Intern.Do you enjoy organising events, developing creative c...
10/06/2026

We are looking for an all-round Communications & Production Intern.

Do you enjoy organising events, developing creative concepts, designing communication materials, and working with people from different disciplines? Then this internship might be for you.

At Foundation We Are, we create collaborative programmes and a have makerspace where citizens, designers, artists, researchers and social professionals collaborate, engage in dialogue and participate in shaping civic space. Through exhibitions, events, programmes, and interdisciplinary projects, we bring together designers, makers, researchers, and communities to explore new perspectives and possibilities.

As part of our team, you’ll support both production and communication activities—from event planning and exhibition setup to content creation, graphic design, and communication strategy. It’s an opportunity to gain hands-on experience, take initiative, and contribute to meaningful cultural programmes from our community space at Strijp-S in Eindhoven.

Applications are open until 1 July.

For the full vacancy and application details, see link in bio

Knuff’s Cuddle Puddle: How to encourage people to connect and feel safe?by & Nathan RamosPeople have a deep need for hu...
25/05/2026

Knuff’s Cuddle Puddle: How to encourage people to connect and feel safe?
by & Nathan Ramos

People have a deep need for human connection. But what if no one is nearby? Or if you want a connection but don’t know how? Research shows that hugging, even with a stuffed animal, can calm the nervous system and positively impact adults’ mental health. Through conversa­tions with Nathan Ramos, Denise explored her motivation to create safe connections as a foundation. During her graduation she created KNUFF, a thoughtfully designed companion for adults who may think they’ve outgrown stuffed animals. At KNUFF’s cuddle puddle, you can expe­rience KNUFF in a cozy, relaxed setting. Denise also hosts cuddle workshops at where participants learn, through guided exercises, to make physi­cal contact in a safe and mindful way. This helps lower the barrier to connecting with others.
combines design, storytelling, and playful learning to drive social change. She focuses on the positive impact of building an inclusive society with space for au­thenticity and self-love. That’s why she creates products, workshops, and hands-on learning experiences that are accessible and practical.

Now on display until 30th of August 2026.
Come by and explore also the other works of the exhibition.

Colorful Disruptions: How can space inhabite color, fantasy, and craft? by & Susan Maas A subtle detail, an unusual sha...
18/05/2026

Colorful Disruptions: How can space inhabite color, fantasy, and craft?
by & Susan Maas

A subtle detail, an unusual shape, or an unexpected form can transform how we experience a space. Inspired by the wish to bring surprise into the daily life of the Haven student community, Monis Pinto designed a series of mosaic interventions to spark joy and imagination. By embedding these handcrafted mosaic creatures into the architecture, the work creates small moments of wonder for those who encounter them. Through ele­ments that are easy to miss yet rewarding to discover, the project explores how these playful disruptions reshape our perception of space.

It turns passive observation into active engagement, allowing imagination to thrive in everyday environments. Monis and Susan plan to install the works in the Haven student complex in Eindhoven, home to 735 residences.
is an interdisciplinary artist, story­teller, and maker whose work blends world-building, character creation, and handcrafted media. She approaches fan­tasy as a space uncovered through mate­rial engagement, allowing narratives and characters to emerge organically through making. Susan works as a Community Builder for Vestide, part of

Now on display until 30th of August 2026.
Come by and explore also the other works of the exhibition.

🗓️ Mark the date! Our next Common Grounds event is taking place on 17th of June. This time we are reflecting on the ques...
14/05/2026

🗓️ Mark the date! Our next Common Grounds event is taking place on 17th of June. This time we are reflecting on the question: “What is the role of our cities when it comes to our mental health and wellbeing?”

From the daily stress of economic inequalities and the performance-driven society to war tragedies and environmental and economic crises – our mental health and emotional wellbeing are under higher pressure. What seems challenging for ordinary citizens is even more inaccessible to those with disability and challenged intellectual development. The healthcare sector is famously bursting at the seams, with waiting lines becoming unbearably long for some of our most vulnerable fellow citizens. But the challenges of the healthcare sector belong to all of us.

A whole movement in the cultural and creative sector has formed around new notions of care, art and design as emancipatory and therapeutic practices, and healing as a collective and systemic matter, rather than an individualistic one.

On June 17th, during the six edition of Common Grounds, we’ll get together with psychologists, system therapists, artistic researchers and social designers to talk about the role of the city and how it can be transformed by new artistic and care practices.

This time we are joined by: , , , Tim Hulshof, Debbie Straver, Gjilke Keuning and Manon van Hoeckel. Moderated by:

We think it is time for a more collective approach to mental health and we think that the city of Eindhoven can play a role in that. Join us for this interactive conversation as we try to shape new ideas, ways of thinking and strategies for mental health and wellbeing in our cities.

Date: 17th of June 2026, 15:30 – 17:30
Location: Foundation We Are, Torenallee 22-04, 5617 BD Eindhoven

What can we learn from GGzE Landgoed De Grote Beek Eindhoven? by & At GGzE’s Landgoed De Grote Beek, mental healthcare...
11/05/2026

What can we learn from GGzE Landgoed De Grote Beek Eindhoven?
by &

At GGzE’s Landgoed De Grote Beek, mental healthcare, art, craftsmanship, and community come together. This project highlights not just the physical space, but the unique approach where care, creativity, and daily life intersect and reinforce each other.

On view is a personalized vending machine which displays objects created on-site, including artworks, work rehabilitation products, gardening projects, and more. These items make care processes visible, bringing what usually stays inside the institution into public space. Playful elements help spark conversations around mental health, art and making.

In the exhibition you can use the vending machine or take a custom-designed bike to explore the estate yourself, turning your curiosity into a direct experience of what GGzE offers. The project celebrates the vision of GGzE De Grote Beek and encourages us to see mental health not as something hidden, but as something we can collectively understand and appreciate and celebrate.

, a system designer and founder of , explores neuro-liberated design, believing that creativity and care can enrich the world. , Art and Culture Coordinator at , bridges care and art to create space for recovery and connection.

Now on display until 30th of August 2026.
Come by and explore also the other works of the exhibition.

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