Gwenda van der Vaart

Gwenda van der Vaart is a researcher at the University of Groningen, Faculty of Spatial Sciences, focusing on community development, arts & culture, and creative research methods. Her work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 13 (Climate Action). She has contributed to projects like the Campus Eemsdelta initiative and the SUSPLACE program on sustainable place-shaping.

• Research Themes: Community resilience, participatory planning, arts-based methods, rural transitions, and place identity.
• Collaborations: Active in Dutch research networks, with expertise in rural communities (Groningen, Limburg, Friesland) and coastal regions.
• Supervision: Co-supervisor for PhD research on art and democracy, and involved in multiple thesis committees.
• Activities: Keynote contributor at the RTLG Webinar on rural transitions, speaker at YAG Mini Lectures, and participant in knowledge-sharing events like Kenniscafé Jouw Groningen.

Her publications blend geography, urban planning, and social sciences, emphasizing community engagement and cultural participation in shaping sustainable futures.