Dear Green Commons: How to share a city
Our city is a people’s city. Dear Green Commons is four public gatherings in June & August 2026 from the Centre for Human Ecology, exploring the commons as a practical foundation for co-creating just futures in Glasgow.
Our Dear Green Commons. A forum to learn from urban commons movements that seek to co-create alternatives to gentrification and privatisation, and invite deep reflection on what is needed most in these times of increased polarisation, conflict and systemic unraveling.
In a participatory session, contributors will share their work and insights, followed by group conversations to collectively articulate visions of the commons as infrastructures of care and mutual support.
Contributors: Eva Schonveld (Grassroots2Global); Fergus Walker (The Orchard Project); Davey Anderson (Clyde Alive); Toby Pepperrell.
8 August, 2pm. GalGael Workshops & Garden
A Commons Ceilidh. Performances of songs and spoken word, interspersed with a traditional ceilidh (‘visit’ in Gaelic) where we gather and those who are interested can offer up a song, or poem, or story. There’s no expectation for everyone to share something, only that the opportunity is there for anyone who might like to. NB it is not a ceilidh in the contemporary sense of traditional dancing.
Performers: Lorna MacBean, Tawona Sitholé and Erin Friel.
8 August, 5:30pm. GalGael Workshops & Garden
Past events:
- Flourish. A sharing of stories that explore the city’s diverse intercultural heritage as a living commons through food cultures, art and economic activity that sustain wealth and power within local communities.
Contributors: Dr Pinar Aksu, Zarina Ahmad, Diana Quintana Cataño, Fergus Walker, Moogety Garden and Dr Svenja Meyerricks
13 June, 6pm – 9pm
The Pearce Institute - Clyde Commons. An immersive walk and talk in central Govan, exploring issues of gentrification, bioregioning and embodied practice – asking what it all means for the Clyde Commons, using walking as an urban research method. A conversation between artist about the Clyde bioregion. The event will also see the re-launch of the Centre for Human Ecology’s Clydeside reference library and community learning space, in the Pearce Institute.
Contributors: Neil Gray, Saffy Setohy, Jamie Wardrop, Luke Devlin and Dr Anne Winther
13 June, 2pm – 5pm
The Pearce Institute
All tickets are free/ by donation. All are welcome. Supported by and part of the Glasgow 2026 Festival.
