Persistable stands as a technological inquiry into the realm of Digital Commoning—a recognition of commons as community-driven processes that collectively use, manage, and organize resources and knowledge for broad accessibility^[1]. While notable examples of digital commons exist today, such as Wikipedia, the dimensions of community contribution remain largely confined to either intangible knowledge creation or monetary support, with infrastructural dependencies still rooted in centralized systems. Due to this synthetic nature of the internet, true commons have not emerged as a natural solution online. We remain at a nascent stage of internet commons, where much of the knowledge and resources continue to be coerced into private ownership. Blockchain has been popularly known for its use as a hyper-capitalist tool. Persistable, however, recognizes it as a broader design instrument, enabling multidimensional forms of community contribution—particularly in shared infrastructure—thus enhancing the resilience and autonomy of digital commons.

In an era where digital knowledge faces increasing monopolization by large tech corporations, the imperative to reimagine frameworks for organizing and sharing knowledge becomes critical. Commons represent a paradigm shift from efficiency-driven, competitive models that favor consolidation. As cloud dependencies deepen, exploring resilient digital resource management independent of large tech providers becomes essential. Persistable embraces this rethinking by fostering shared, community-driven processes for knowledge preservation, cultivating an environment where pedagogy thrives independently of corporate influence.

Similar to the advocacy for the right to repair^[2] of hardware devices, digital objects benefit from designs supporting modularity and repairability. Contemporary digital objects have evolved from simple photographs to complex creations like VR experiences, often developed as tightly bonded systems dependent on specific hardware and software stacks. As these supporting technologies become obsolete, restoration becomes increasingly complex and cost-prohibitive. Persistable advocates for digital objects constructed with modularity and open technologies, enabling components to be updated, replaced, or reassembled as needed. This approach fosters independence from original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and ensures longer lifespans for digital artifacts.

Persistable is designed for individuals and organizations dedicated to contributing to the digital commons, including artists, curators, researchers, and cultural institutions. Built to handle multiple projects in parallel, each contributing to a shared, resilient repository of art, culture, and information, Persistable is currently in active development. We are collaborating on pilot initiatives with artists and institutions through commissioned projects. If Persistable resonates with your work and you'd like to help us co-learn through collaboration, please reach out at [email protected].