Claiming Space

What is Claiming Space?

Claiming Space creates room for makers and thinkers — literally and figuratively. By presenting a traveling exhibition in Eindhoven’s public spaces, it raises questions about access, visibility, and belonging: what gets space in the city, and what does not? The project responds to the shrinking availability of cultural and experimental places, while showing how design can open dialogue in unexpected contexts.

The cargo bikes are transformed, displaying work from designers of different disciplines and backgrounds. Together, they form a moving exhibition that surfaces in daily life rather than behind closed doors. The format is flexible, low-threshold, and highly accessible, making design visible across the city. Claiming Space is both an exhibition and a dialogue: about how space is used today, and how it can be reclaimed for creativity tomorrow.

Visitors are invited not only to view the works, but also to engage directly with the makers and the DEMO team — contributing to conversations about cultural space and its future in Eindhoven.

Need more information about the exhibited works and the project? Follow our instagram @eindhoven.demo for updates.

Why Claiming Space?

Claiming Space stems from urgency. DEMO lost its own exhibition space, but the issue is much wider: across Eindhoven, creative hubs and cultural places are disappearing. For many makers, this means fewer opportunities, less visibility, and fewer chances to connect with the public. Claiming Space is a response — a way to keep creative ideas alive in the streets instead of accepting the shrink.

Instead of waiting for a new building, DEMO moves directly into the city, turning public space into a site of dialogue, visibility, and imagination. The project also reflects DEMO’s mission: removing barriers and making sure more ideas see the light of day. By leaving the walls of institutions, we meet people where they are and open conversations about themes that affect everyone: space, ownership, and the cultural future of the city.

Claiming Space does not only highlight what has been lost, but also proposes how we can reclaim and rebuild together. It invites encounters between designers and citizens, makes cultural loss tangible, and points to new possibilities for creativity in Eindhoven.

Where to find Claiming Space?

The cargo bikes appear daily at multiple public locations, in consultation with local partners. All selected spots are connected to the theme of Claiming Space and include well-known DDW hotspots. A detailed schedule with exact locations is shared both on-site at the expo and digitally.

Visitors can find the day’s route, information about the exhibited works and live updates through DEMO’s Instagram: @demo.eindhoven. By moving across the city and surfacing in unexpected places, the exhibition creates a shifting presence — ensuring that art and design is not confined to traditional venues but part of everyday urban life.