OUTLINE and Off Course invite you to Thing Theories, a 3-day publishing intensive in which we will collectively compile, edit, and print a publication on-site. We’ll centre research, production, and exchange across a series of workshops, presentations and conversations among participants and with guest contributors.

The publishing intensive orbits two definitions of the artefact: as both an archeological term for a human-made object, and a term for a misleading error or confusing alteration in data-observation. We’ll explore artefact-objects and the stories and histories they carry, our relationship to objects and the power they hold over us, looking for parallels, and ways they relate through difference; to destabilise concepts of ownership and authorship, and to produce new modes of interpretation. 

What does it mean to possess an artefact? How can we overlay histories and (un)bend narratives? And what happens when these objects are appropriated, described, juxtaposed, recontextualised, and finally published? 

Each participant will be asked to bring in an artefact (or its representation): an object that carries a story, or a history, into the present. On day 1 & 2, we’ll explore methods of collective processing — annotating, archival activation, historicising, translating — through a series of exercises and workshops. Together we will look for ways to describe, contextualise, layer, version, mutate, contrast and arrange our artefact-objects into a composite curiosity cabinet, to finally converge in the publication we will print together on day 3.

For who
Artists, writers, designers, editors and students who are interested in collective publishing practices. 

Where
The publishing intensive takes place at the studio of publishing platform OUTLINE and the print- and bookbind-workshop no kiss, in Werkgebouw Het Veem (Amsterdam).

When
Friday 10 – Sunday 12 July 2026

Practicalities
○ Participants are asked for a financial contribution of €90,-, which will be used for meals, drinks, materials and printing costs.
○ Participants get 5 copies of the publication.
○ We unfortunately can’t provide accommodation for those outside of The Netherlands who would like to join.
○ No prior experience with designing or printing necessary.
○ Out of the applications, 10 participants will be selected to take part in the publishing intensive.

Apply
To apply, send an email before Wednesday 20 May 2026 to outlineplatform@gmail.com, containing the following:

○ Subject: Application publishing intensive;
○ Your name, location, age and occupation (or field of study);
○ A short description of the artefact-object you’d like to bring (physically or figuratively). Please elaborate on why you are interested in publishing around this artefact;
○ Your cv;
○ A link to your website (if applicable).

We’ll get back to you by the end of May.