What we call development has, structurally, been the degradation of natural ecosystems. Can we imagine and design a different story?
The workshop starts from a simple question: have we forgotten how to imagine futures we might actually want to live in?
Over 90 minutes, around 35 participants will work in teams to design an imaginary island where people, other species and our shared home can thrive equitably. Through a series of provocations, they will have to decide what must be true of this world: how people live, how decisions are made, what is valued, what is protected and what a day in this future might actually feel like.
We are inviting four people to form our Agora, with each person representing one perspective we want present in the room: Nature / Love, Belonging & Care / Ancestors / Descendants. The role is very simple, and requires no preparation. We’ll give you a short card with a few prompts and questions linked to the perspective you represent.
During the workshop, you’ll:
* move between the five teams and listen to what they are imagining;
* ask a few questions from the perspective you represent;
* offer prompts if a team gets stuck or could push its thinking further;
* act as a resource if teams want to come and consult you;
* and, at the end, listen to their three-minute pitches and score them.
You are not being asked to be an expert, give a speech or come with answers. The spirit is much more playful: your job is to help the teams think more imaginatively and make sure the voice you represent does not get forgotten. The emphasis throughout is on creativity, play and collaboration rather than polish or realism. At the end, the four Agora Judges will help decide which imagined island we would most want to live in.
