Global Co-commission: 2022 - 2024

The Global Co-commission project, led by Alserkal Advisory in collaboration with the Global Cultural Districts Network, unites three cultural districts across three continents—Alserkal Avenue in Dubai, Kingston Creative in Jamaica, and Victoria Yards in Johannesburg—in a collective response to the global climate crisis. The project aims to inspire new narratives through public art that is both responsible and impactful, working with artists in each district to address urgent global challenges.

Curated by Tairone Bastien, the inaugural cycle (2022-23) focuses on climate change, under the theme A Feral Commons. Artists are encouraged to rethink their practices, create new models of communal living, and develop site-specific public art installations. The project features works by Muhannad Shono (Alserkal Avenue), Camille Chedda (Kingston Creative), and Io Makandal (Victoria Yards), each responding to the central theme in their unique contexts.

Beyond the installations, the project engages local communities through programs that delve deeper into the themes and questions posed by the art. The initiative also emphasises environmental responsibility. With support from Urban Art Project (UAP), the project self-audits its environmental impact using tools like the Artwork Ingredient List and Public Art 360. These tools not only measure the project's CO2 emissions but also track its societal impact and afterlife.