How can we break through a culture of mistrust? Suspicion regarding our fellow beings, the authorities and enterprises is growing, blamed on passing the buck and feelings of impotence. We seek remedies in regulations, contracts and procedures, assurances, audits and consultancy. As well as in good governance and transparency. But do they actually make for real trust? Is trust not always somewhat blind? Trust: Building on Cultural Commons highlights the crucial role played by cultural commons, shared ‘common’ life and its customs, practices, knowledge and values. After all, trust is a matter of culture, emotion and even aesthetics. Wide-ranging trust starts with the sharing of vulnerabilities, and it is Pascal Gielen’s belief that the ‘common’ provides the necessary scope. Breathing space and scope for experiment. How might a society and a policy build on this?