Dutch Graffiti Library – Co-Designing An Immersive Graffiti Heritage Experience That Can Be Shared in Europe
The Local Challenge
Amsterdam, long celebrated for its progressive values and creative energy, is undergoing rapid change. Rising living costs, gentrification, and the commercialization of public space are displacing grassroots art communities. At the same time, the Dutch creative economy is increasingly dominated by digital monopolies that prioritize algorithms over cultural diversity. Graffiti—often dismissed as vandalism—remains a vital form of urban storytelling, amplifying the voices of youth, marginalised groups, and political dissent. From Provo slogans of the 1960s to today’s climate and migration murals, graffiti reflects social change. Yet without preservation, this heritage risks disappearing under redevelopment and digital fragmentation.
The Initiative
The project translates the unique vibe and stories of the Dutch Graffiti Library (DGL) into a mobile, immersive experience for diverse youth across Europe. In partnership with Inholland University of Applied Sciences, ARC Research Center, and OBA Next Lab, the initiative uses cutting-edge media technology to digitally capture and preserve graffiti’s raw, site-specific essence. Through multilingual, multimedia storytelling and co-creative design workshops, youth help shape the narrative structures and prototypes. The result is a portable immersive experience, tested in Inholland’s Immersive Room and OBA Next Lab, with open toolkits enabling replication by schools, libraries, and labs across Europe.
What’s Next?
The project will empower people to engage with cultural heritage in new ways, building confidence, creative skills, and a stronger sense of belonging. By contributing their voices to the design process, young participants will shape how graffiti’s stories are experienced and shared. The initiative will also strengthen libraries as trusted spaces for experimentation and dialogue. Its co-creative approach will provide a transferable model, enabling other European libraries to foster inclusion, cultural participation, and innovative forms of storytelling.
Contact theeuropechallenge@culturalfoundation.eu if you have any questions or want to be connected with the team behind the project.
