Middle Ground is an artist residency series based on a cargo bike. (OPEN CALL!)
Its intention, as a roaming art residency, is to connect and reclaim in a society where binary politics and geographies are cut through by anger, fear, and motorways. Today it is taboo to look for ways to compromise with “the other side” rather than finding solidarity with all people. But sometimes, all it can take is to ride a bike somewhere and talk to someone new, to realise that we’re not so different, and often, we want the same things.
Putting the format of an artist residency on a cargo bike is both a political and practical choice.
If the intention is to bridge division, in ways uniting working people, then we need to get rid of the walls that shut each other out. Art spaces are often exclusionary, and art ideals are often disconnected from the reality of living.
Middle Ground uses the cargo bike to melt these boundaries. When someone shows up in a small village on a strange giant bike, even if they look suspicious, they’re going to illicit some kind of mutual connection with local people.
Artists apply to use a specially equipped cargo bike for a month. It will have essentials for travel and art making, as well as space for individual artist equipment.
This first iteration should take place in summer 2025 and will consist of 3 artist journeys starting in the Netherlands. During a ~4 week period each will cycle somewhere, meet people, and connect to places. From this they will form some kind of artistic action that engages directly with communities they meet. The intention is open and flexible, letting the tour play its role.
This site is an information base for the project while in its initiation phase. Work is ongoing to form structures, define processes, build a network, and gain tangible support.
That’s where you come in.
Whether you are an artist interested in taking part, a brand or fund that would like to sponsor, or an individual also passionate about cycling art and society, you can read below about ways to get involved.
For Public
Join the crowdfunding:
Follow the project:
Receive project updates by email:
For Artists
If you are interested in taking part you can fill in this form:
Application deadline on 14 April 2025
If you would like to know more details about the project you can view this pdf:
For Potential Partners
If you are interested in supporting the project you can read information about sponsorship here:
Contact
For any further information or just to chat about the project please email:
Share
To share this web page with anyone else you can use this link:
https://middleground.jamespac.net
Press
Middle Ground’s press page, with downloadable images is here:
Colophon
This residency is artist run and not intended for profit.
It is initiated by James Crossley.
Thanks!
Your attention is appreciated. Here’s to a world with more bikes, more art, and less division.
The contents of this page are proprietary to Middle Ground, operated by James Crossley and follow Middle Ground GDPR privacy policy (whatever that means).