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A temporary local currency for Strijp-S. It’s certainly not the first time that a community introduces its own currency, but the value of the Strijp ‘egonomia’ is quite special: it’s based on values like knowledge, network or creativity, and organized within an online dataplatform. “This could be a way of transforming personal data and knowledge into a common energy and activity on Strijp-S.”

Egonomia is a project bij Mark van der Net (architect, urban designer and programmer) and Wiepko Oosterhuis (curator Economia) and powered by VPRO Medialab, Baltan Laboratories, Droog Design / Design+Desires and Park Strijpbeheer. Egonomia is part of Economia, a 3-day festival that explores new ideas and thinking about our economy through keynote lectures, films, performances, and playful installations. Egonomia takes place every day from 11 AM til 11 PM, with free entrance.

“Economy seems to be about the hard and measurable truth”, says Renee Schmeetz of VPRO Medialab. “But what is the deal with our invisible values and motivations? Do you spend your money according to your values? And what influence does your spending have on our society? Egonomia is not only an exploration for a local economy with its own currency, but also a social experiment where you can download free cash and spend it in a pop-up economy during Economia festival in Natlab.

“Do you spend your money according to your values?”Egonomia,

A personal currency
During Egonomia visitors should prepare themselves to be flooded with cash. “Not the kind of cash that you are used to in your daily live, but a currency based on your own values and beliefs. What impact do your values have on what you buy, on your behaviour and what are the consequences for society? Egonomia will let you use this currency while questioning your own ideas through playful interactions.”

Download free cash
Can’t wait to spend these free banknotes? Go to www.egonomia.nl and hit the “Get your free cash here” button. Fill in a short values-survey and receive a QR-code in your email. Scan this code at the cash machine at Economia festival on 28, 29 or 30 April with the code and get your own personalized banknotes. The notes are designed by Hansje van Halem.

 

No neutral transactions
With this free cash, visitors can immediately do transactions like drinks, tickets and more. These transactions aren’t neutral but refer to a value in the survey the visitors have filled in before. Buying a beer and giving this to a stranger may refer to the value ‘empathy’. Over the course of three days, all transactions are monitored by QR-codes on the banknotes and underlying values can be observed.EGONOMIA is part of Economia, a 3-day festival that explores new ideas and thinking about our economy through keynote lectures, films, performances, and playful installations.

Egonomia is part of Economia, a 3-day festival that explores new ideas and thinking about our economy through keynote lectures, films, performances, and playful installations. Read more about Economia, the program and tickets on www.thinkeconomia.com.