Tools of Relation explored grassroots models of institutional cooperation by examining the maintenance work of governing structures to create the material conditions for assembly and mobilization through an accessible, peer-to-peer, lineage of progress. The initiative arose from the question, “Who is the academy, really?” and was a collaboration between Lila Bullen-Smith (former Rietveld student council member and student union representative) and myself (former member of BAC and MR of the Sandberg Instituut). The project aimed to
establish an accessible commons, uniting academy members through their preferred forms of participation (via self-legitimised tagging systems). This resulted in an open-source archive for gathering and contextualising materials related to the unofficial social and political life of the Gerrit Rietveld Academie and Sandberg Instituut.
establish an accessible commons, uniting academy members through their preferred forms of participation (via self-legitimised tagging systems). This resulted in an open-source archive for gathering and contextualising materials related to the unofficial social and political life of the Gerrit Rietveld Academie and Sandberg Instituut.

Tools of Relation | photo by Tom Janssen
Tools of Relation | photo by Tom Janssen
Tools of Relation | photo by Tom Janssen
A key component was a speculative navigational map outlining the academy’s unofficial initiatives (i.e. unions, open letters, departmental and curricular adjustments, etc.) and decision-making structures (i.e. student council members were not granted a permanent spot in the MR), the first attempt at such documentation. Direct faculty input enriched the archive, and during the two public moments (Lila’s and my own graduation show), contributors reported feeling empowered within their roles and wished to have ownership over it in the academic future. A dynamic database was envisioned to visualise institutional structures but lacked the material support for completion.
The project’s documentation now resides in the academy’s library but remains inaccessible as an interactive tool. The project faced skepticism, limited access to institutional documents, and a lack of response from the board of directors. Only during its exhibition did it receive acclaim from students and faculty, underscoring the missed opportunity for broader institutional engagement. In that moment, the project generated significant interest during our graduation shows (2021 and 2022), highlighting the need for platforms that strengthen bonds between students and faculty.
Despite limited time and resources, the archive demonstrated the potential to enhance agency and foster long-lasting exchange.
Despite limited time and resources, the archive demonstrated the potential to enhance agency and foster long-lasting exchange.