Diekema’s work is a mix of art, activism, ‘bottom up’ urban planning and creating communities. Introduced as Artist and City Maker, half of his work exists as projects in the field of art and urban research. These are primarily explorations in aesthetically grounded research that result in interdisciplinary works about geography, infrastructure and culture. Diekema works in the disciplines of research, film, photography and writing.

The other half of his work leads to ‘bottom up’ urban planning and implementation, giving empty places a temporary life. Since 2007 he initiates, advices and develops cooperated living, creative communities and artist housing in the northern part of the Netherlands. For this he co-founded Art Indeed Foundation, a artist run organization for organizing AIR-projects and Art Spaces in Groningen. Diekema also worked 12 years for CareX, an spinoff-organization of the squatter movement that works in the field of temporary urban developments. In the last decade Diekema was founder and organizer of artist-exchanges between Groningen and international art-institutes and became a member of the Port Journey Network.

Both roles are woven into international platforms as Port Journeys Network, Port Futures/Social Logistics and Hyper Cultural Passengers. He curate and organize projects and exchanges within these structures, give lectures and advise municipalities around the globe.

The scope of his work is broad, sharpened by theoretical knowledge, complemented by real practice.
It affects and engages people across a variety of scales.

GRONINGEN
THE NETHERLANDS
ART INDEED FOUNDATION

Groningen is the capital city of province of Groningen and the biggest and most important city in the northern part of the Netherlands. In the agglomeration live approximately 250.000 people of which 35% is younger than 35 years. This makes Groningen the city with the highest percentage young citizens in the Netherlands. The city is famous for its cultural scene and several universities which make it an important international hotspot for science as well. The cultural-life is best known for its dynamic music-scene, festivals and artists that use the city as their stage. There are two ‘Groningen Seaports’ in the region: Eemshaven (data and energy port) and Delfzijl (chemical and circular waste). The modern seaports took over the role of the city as an important ‘inland port’ in the mid-20^th. century.

Art Indeed Foundation is an artist run organization that organizes Artist in Residence programs, Art and Research projects and Art Spaces for professional artists and designers from different disciplines, in Groningen.