Conceived for the Saudi Arabia Pavilion at the 24th Triennale Milano International Exhibition, Maghras emanates from a community research hub in Al Ahsa, one of the world’s oldest and largest oases. Through research, participatory workshops and experiments in production, the initiative explores how knowledge can be collectively cultivated, how environmental change influences cultural memory and how research can grow from places often overlooked in global narratives of progress.

The state deals with a lot of money. People and organisations need to declare, file, and pay taxes or receive returns if they overpaid the state. Tax contributions amount to billions of euros, funding public goods such as infrastructure, education, social welfare, and defence. In the 13th edition of our meetup series, we take a closer look at research and design in public finance and taxation, exploring diverse perspectives from 3 speakers. The evening aims to spark a discussion about the government’s or the state’s role, and how it can be accommodating to citizens, residents, and business owners.