STRAATWIJS

STRAATWIJS brings science and society together through street art. In Amsterdam Nieuw-West, residents, local stakeholders, artists, and scientists are collaborating to create art about local social issues, such as urbanization & housing insecurity, financial insecurity, safety & youth well-being.

Addressing societal issues through the connection of Art and Science
Art offers an inclusive and accessible way to make science accessible about complex societal issues and to engage groups who often feel left out by science. By creating art together, we connect emotions, experiences, and culture with knowledge and expertise. In this way, street art can also give a voice to groups who would otherwise go unheard. With STRAATWIJS, we aim to:

Better align science with existing conversations in the neighborhood.
Develop new forms of science communication
Investigate how this co-creation process can contribute to addressing local issues

STRAATWIJS runs from September 2025 to September 2026 and is divided into four phases of three months each (see below).

With our partners, we conduct street-interviews and co-create art. Together, we bring art to the streets and perform street theatre. In this way, we make science relevant, accessible, and relatable.

STREET-MAP: In phase 1 of this project, we are creating a STREET MAP that identifies the most important social issues in Amsterdam Nieuw-West. This is done in collaboration with Stadsreporters – local residents who volunteer to make reports – we go out onto the streets to collect stories, experiences and perspectives from residents, entrepreneurs, social workers and policymakers.

STREET-ART: In Phase 2, we will create STREET ART based on the STREET MAP around 3 social issues. Under the guidance of Street ART Museum Amsterdam (SAMA) Residents, scientists and local stakeholders will jointly co-create a work of art in the form of a poster that visually represents the social issue.

STREET-INTRACTION: In phase 3, we will take the artworks out onto the streets and engage in STREET INTERACTION, using playback theater. Residents, local stakeholders, and scientists will collaborate with Mens in de Maak create a script for performing interactive street theatre about the art, science and different perspectives created.

STREET-WISDOM: In the final phase of this project, we will meet with the entire project group for a learning and reflection session. From the Athena Institute We analyze the insights and answer the question: How can the co-creation of street art contribute to science communication and citizen participation of underserved target groups, with regard to highlighting and addressing science on local societal issues?

Initial outcomes STRAATKAART (phase I).

After talking with policymakers, social entrepreneurs and residents in Nieuw-West about where the biggest challenges are for them right now, the following topics emerged: Urbanization & Housing Insecurity, Financial Insecurity, Safety & Youth Welfare. The results for each target group can be found here at openresearch.amsterdam.

Team
The project team consists of:
- Dr. Geertje Tijsma (Athena researcher)
- Dr. Tessa Roedema (Athena researcher)
- Dr. Michiel van Oudheusden (Athena researcher)
- Mirna Ligthart (Stadsreporters)
- Anna Stolyarova (SAMA)
- Dr. Frank Kupper (Mens in de Maak)
Funding

This project has received € 110 000 in funding from the Dutch Research Council NWO grant No. 1397.25.209.

Get in touch with us!

Geertje Tijsma

Tessa Roedema

STRAATWIJS

With our partners

With our partners

With our partners, we conduct street-interviews and co-create art. Together, we bring art to the streets and perform street theatre. In this way, we make science relevant, accessible, and relatable.

Outcomes

Initial outcomes STRAATKAART (phase I).

Project details

Team

Funding

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