The Future of the Commons (FoC) is an informal, online collective, which invites community organisations, academia, technologists, archivists, creative practitioners, policymakers, GLAM professionals, open knowledge enthusiasts, Wikimedians and more, to come together to listen, brainstorm and debate the digital commons. Inspired by the eponymous work by Elinor Ostrom and many others, this collective aims to critically analyse current developments, affordances and crises of the commons. We aim to foster a deeper understanding of how commons-based approaches can address contemporary challenges in technology, governance, culture, and sustainability of open, shared and community-based knowledge infrastructures.

The collective was set up following a series of engaging conversations on the intersections of artificial intelligence, archives and Indian languages at a conference on the digital commons, organised in July 2024 by the Centre for Internet and Society, Bengaluru.

We organize monthly talks and discussions featuring experts from diverse fields related to the digital commons, including but not limited to free and open-source movements, digital media, cultures and infrastructures, emerging technologies, and Indian languages. Our events are open to all and designed to foster dialogue and collaboration.