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We work with organisations or groups of organisations, dealing with social impact or large-scale challenges, who want to bring new perspectives and genuinely different thinking, being and engaging into their current problem solving.
Transformation efforts, like those seen in large scale, multi-collaborator initiatives, are often built on brittle (or a limited set of) assumptions. We have extensive experience working inside these complex initiatives to help identify the false parameters, essentially the invisible constraints and legacy logics that limit the systems ability to evolve and flourish.
Through embedded research, curatorial interventions, learning experiences, programmes and workshops, we probe into the gaps and inject the bizarre and unusual to help move beyond established narratives and problem solving cliches.
The approach was developed from research and practice. It’s been tested over the past five years (and developed over 10) in large EU collaborations, small collectives as well as in an alliance of small nations.
The 8 week online programme designed for communities and complex collaborations within social impact realm that might have gotten stuck in the sands.
First we work to understand more deeply the aspirations of the group and any important contextual information. We then design and create a bespoke experience for the group and the context based on 8 elements we have identified helpful in such scenarios. In some circumstances, there can be extra benefit to hosting sessions in person. We believe this is particularly true when groups of people are working on a specific project together that requires novel ideas and ways of approaching and engaging with the topic. In these cases, we work with the group to co-design a more intensive programme.
We will however (in general) follow these steps:
- Host a weekly or bi-weekly online session with participants.
- Design a space that re-contextualises the group to explore themselves anew.
- Provide provocations weekly.
- Facilitate group to explore the provocation with each other, as well as its relevance to their initiative.
- At the end of the of the programme we sense-make the entire experience with the group, and work through how to apply these new perspectives to their challenges.
Our research explores models that are frequently used within current social change and social impact initiatives. However, it also seeks to ‘unearth’ models that are not being consciously used, but exist nonetheless. Think indigenous knowledge, music or arts, queer, unpublished work or any work that does not make it into the mainstream (and many many more).
Lastly it explores models that are seen as emerging practices. The intent is to codify and weave how we currently consciously think about creating change, with how we are unconsciously influenced by a much greater plethora of models, concepts and approaches. We have conducted elements of this research in different guises throughout the past 10+ years, which gives us clues about where to go looking for new and/or unusual , how to read weak signals, practice in codification as well as experience in how to synthesise lots of small discoveries into a bigger picture.
We welcome funding, fellowship or other similar opportunities, as these are critical to dedicate deep time and focus into this area. With a funding opportunity dedicated to this research, our aim would be to synthesise, build and publish new open source models for others to experiment and play with.
Thinkers in Residence is best understood as a think-tank-like, residency inspired programme dedicated to forging profound connections. The programme is built around a vital enquiry, which is defined as a topic, problem or question that preoccupies the group and unfolds over an extended period of time.
Read testimonials from our participants here!
We love speaking about these topics and welcome all chances to share our enthusiasm about them. We’ve presented keynotes at conferences, engaged with departments and teams, at schools, at art events and the list goes on.