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PRINCIPLES OF SOCIAL ARCHITECTURE OF CONTEMPORARY CREATIVE COMMUNITIES
ABOUT THE RESEARCH

This survey is part of Anna Galeeva’s research project on the principles of social architecture and the sustainability of horizontal art communities.

The research began in 2022 and has already gone through several stages:

  1. 2022 – Analysis of creative communities in art residencies and non-profit organizations in Germany and Russia.
  2. 2023 – A survey of 150 representatives of art communities to identify their roles and the impact of horizontal structures.
  3. 2024-2025 – A focus on art communities in Austria, Poland and Hungary
  4. 2026-2027 – The creation and publication of a methodological guide on working with contemporary art communities.

This survey aims to explore which horizontal practices are effective today, what challenges communities face, and how their sustainability can be strengthened.
Additionally, the research seeks to create a network of resources beneficial to communities, develop a methodology for horizontal principles, and make them visible and applicable to other areas of human activity beyond the cultural sector.

📩 To request a preview of the research or to ask any of questions, please contact Anna at: galeevacurator@gmail.com

⏳ The survey will take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete.

Thanks for being a part of it.

Email *
II. GENERAL INFORMATION
Name&Surname / Nickname *
Country where you actually are *
City where you actually are  *
Community or Initiative Name  *
How old is your community? *
Give the short description of your community and/or give the links where I can learn more about it *
What is your main role in the community? *
II. HORIZONTALITY PRINCIPLES

Horizontality in creative communities is not just about rejecting hierarchy—it is about building dynamic, adaptive structures based on self-organization, trust, and collective agency. Inspired by Peter Hinchens’ principles of Social Architecture and the Open Space Technology (OST) framework, this section explores how communities balance decentralization, fluid leadership, and sustainable participation. OST emphasizes self-managed, emergent discussions where participants create the structure organically, while Hinchens highlights modularity, reciprocity, and feedback loops as key to long-term resilience.

This part of the survey aims to identify which mechanisms sustain horizontal art communities, how decision-making and leadership emerge, and what challenges affect the long-term viability of such models.

Which core principles define horizontality in your community? (Select up to three) *
Required
How are key decisions made in your community? *
How do new members integrate into your community? *
What are the biggest challenges in maintaining a horizontal structure? (Select up to three) *
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How does your community adapt to changing conditions? *
How does your community prevent the concentration of power among a small number of members? *
How does your community handle conflict resolution and internal disagreements? *
How are resources (financial, material, digital) managed in your community? *
What strategies have been most effective in keeping members engaged and committed? (Select up to two) *
Required
How does your community balance structure and flexibility? *
What mechanisms exist for sharing knowledge and experience within your community?  (Select up to three) *
Required
How does your community ensure long-term sustainability? (Select up to three) *
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Have you ever had to shift from a horizontal to a more structured model due to challenges? *
Do you think horizontality is the best model for all types of creative communities? Why or why not? *
Would you be interested in sharing further insights in a follow-up interview? *
III. SUSTAINABILITY AND FUNDING
For horizontal communities, financial sustainability is often a challenge, as they aim to remain independent while securing the necessary resources for long-term development. This section explores different funding models, their impact on autonomy, and strategies communities use to balance financial stability with their core values. By understanding how communities sustain themselves—whether through grants, collective contributions, or alternative economies—we can identify best practices that support resilience without compromising horizontality.

How is your community funded? (Select up to four main sources)

 *
Required
What funding models do you think are most sustainable for horizontal communities? (Select up to three) *
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How does dependence on external grants impact your community? (Select all that apply) *
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If your community has applied for grants, what challenges have you faced? (Select all that apply) *
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If your community does not rely on grants, what alternative sustainability strategies do you use? (Select all that apply)
Clear selection
What is the biggest financial challenge for your community? *
IV. COLLABORATION & EXTERNAL NETWORKS
Horizontal communities thrive on exchange, mutual support, and collaboration across networks. This section explores how your community engages with external participants, navigates challenges, and builds long-term relationships with other initiatives.
How does your community engage with external participants? (Select all that apply) *
Required
How often do you need to reassess your community’s principles due to external pressures? *
Can you name examples of successful collaborations with other art communities?
(Open-ended question: Please share any specific projects, networks, or case studies that were impactful.)

What are the biggest challenges in maintaining external collaborations? (Select all that apply)

 *
V. DIGITAL TOOLS IN HORIZONTAL COMMUNITIES
Digital platforms play a crucial role in facilitating collaboration, governance, and knowledge exchange in decentralized communities. This section examines which tools your community uses and how they shape communication and decision-making.
What digital tools does your community use for coordination? (Select all that apply) *
Required
How do digital platforms impact horizontal communities? (Select all that apply) *
Required
What are the biggest digital challenges your community faces? (Select all that apply) *

Dear participant,

I, Anna Galeeva, sincerely appreciate your time and contribution to this research. Your insights are invaluable in understanding and strengthening horizontal communities, making their principles more visible and applicable across different fields.

As a gesture of reciprocity, and in the true spirit of horizontality, I would like to offer my professional resources in return. If you need consultations on project development, mentorship, art management, or any other related areas, feel free to formulate your requests and send them to me.

📩 Please reach out to me at: galeevacurator@gmail.com

Horizontal collaboration thrives on exchange and mutual support. Let’s keep building these networks together!

With gratitude,

Anna Galeeva
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