diff --git a/oxygine/src/core/SharedContext.cpp b/oxygine/src/core/SharedContext.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3564d6860
--- /dev/null
+++ b/oxygine/src/core/SharedContext.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+#include "SharedContext.h"
+#include <SDL_video.h>
+#include "oxygine.h"
+#include "gl/oxgl.h"
+
+namespace oxygine
+{
+    /** Allows the usage of shared OpenGL contexts. Needs to be called before core::init(). */
+    void SharedContext::Enable()
+    {
+        //SDL_GL_SetAttribute(SDL_GL_SHARE_WITH_CURRENT_CONTEXT, 1);
+    }
+
+    /** Creates a shared context. Can be called from the main thread. */
+    void SharedContext::create()
+    {
+        OX_ASSERT(_context == NULL);
+
+        SDL_GLContext currentContext = SDL_GL_GetCurrentContext();
+
+        OX_ASSERT(currentContext != NULL);
+
+        _context = SDL_GL_CreateContext( core::getWindow() );
+
+        CHECKGL();
+
+        OX_ASSERT(_context != NULL);
+
+        // restore the previous context
+        SDL_GL_MakeCurrent( core::getWindow(), currentContext );
+    }
+
+    /** Makes this context the current one. Must be called from within the thread that will use it. */
+    void SharedContext::makeCurrent()
+    {
+        OX_ASSERT(_context != NULL);
+
+        SDL_GL_MakeCurrent( core::getWindow(), _context );
+
+        CHECKGL();
+    }
+
+    /** The destructor which releases the context again. */
+    SharedContext::~SharedContext()
+    {
+        if(_context != NULL)
+        {
+            // disable the context if it is this one
+            if( SDL_GL_GetCurrentContext() == _context )
+                SDL_GL_MakeCurrent( core::getWindow(), NULL );
+
+            SDL_GL_DeleteContext(_context);
+
+            CHECKGL();
+
+            // just be safe in case of other destructor code accessing this object
+            _context = NULL;
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/oxygine/src/core/SharedContext.h b/oxygine/src/core/SharedContext.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b74a1f809
--- /dev/null
+++ b/oxygine/src/core/SharedContext.h
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+#ifndef SHAREDCONTEXT_H
+#define SHAREDCONTEXT_H
+
+typedef void *SDL_GLContext;
+
+namespace oxygine
+{
+    /** This class creates a shared context that can be used to call OpenGL functions inside of other threads.
+     *
+     * Usage:
+     *
+     *   main thread
+     *     SharedContext::Enable();
+     *
+     *     core::init();
+     *
+     *     mythread.sharedContext.create();
+     *
+     *   mythread
+     *     void run()
+     *     {
+     *       sharedContext.makeCurrent();
+     *
+     *       while(true) { }
+     *     }
+     */
+
+    class SharedContext
+    {
+    private:
+
+        /** The shared context that was created. */
+        SDL_GLContext _context;
+
+    public:
+
+        /** Allows the usage of shared OpenGL contexts. Needs to be called before core::init(). */
+        static void Enable();
+
+        /** Creates a shared context object with no OpenGL context being created yet. */
+        SharedContext() :
+            _context(0)
+        {
+        }
+
+        /** Returns true when the context was created. Can be used to wait for a thread to create its context. */
+        bool created() const { return _context != 0; }
+
+        /** Creates a shared context. Can be called from the main thread. */
+        void create();
+
+        /** Makes this context the current one. Must be called from within the thread that will use it. */
+        void makeCurrent();
+
+        /** The destructor which releases the context again. */
+        ~SharedContext();
+    };
+}
+
+#endif // SHAREDCONTEXT_H
diff --git a/oxygine/src/core/oxygine.cpp b/oxygine/src/core/oxygine.cpp
index 618392264..4ccbe604e 100644
--- a/oxygine/src/core/oxygine.cpp
+++ b/oxygine/src/core/oxygine.cpp
@@ -574,6 +574,11 @@ namespace oxygine
             return STDRenderer::isReady();
         }
 
+        void makeContextCurrent()
+        {
+            SDL_GL_MakeCurrent(_window, _context);
+        }
+
         bool  beginRendering(window w)
         {
 
diff --git a/oxygine/src/core/oxygine.h b/oxygine/src/core/oxygine.h
index 06383cc4c..379c8a153 100644
--- a/oxygine/src/core/oxygine.h
+++ b/oxygine/src/core/oxygine.h
@@ -89,6 +89,10 @@ namespace oxygine
 
         /**returns True if device is ready for rendering*/
         bool isReady2Render();
+
+        /***makes the global context the current one. Handy for when sharing OpenGL contexts*/
+        void makeContextCurrent();
+
         /**returns True if device is ready for rendering*/
         bool beginRendering(window i = 0);