Tom Fox, 26 January 2013

People: Flora W, Jonathan P, Richard J, Rosalie W and Tom F.

Interest in learning = Purpose + Desire

We discussed many different aspects of the question above, from the reason a

gathering should exist to why people would attend and participate. The formula above

hopefully introduces the outcomes that we found through the discussion.

The main example for this question was the Creative Gatherings series that happened

through RSA's Citizen Power program in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire. 10

gatherings took place over two years, with the ambition of bringing artists of all art

forms to gather and, through practice, network and explore the realms of Arts in the

city. This came in the form of social events in pubs, a walk around the city, open

space, workshops and chances to connect with other artist related projects in and out

of the program. Now this series has finished and the program is slowly coming to a

close, myself, as a local practitioner would like to carry these on. The passion comes

from creating room for collaboration and partnership in a world full of competition and

politics.

The wonderful conversation today started to indicate that ‘the knowledge of diversity

(of art forms) is not always good’. Meaning, bringing people together just because they

work in different creative ways isn't enough. Why should a visual artist be interested in

meeting up with a theatre maker? Some people thrive on this system but a lot don't.

We know from the Gatherings last year that these encounters enriches people's work,

connecting people's work and finally creates support for people's work. But the first

invite sometimes needs to be more than ‘come along and see what can happen’.

Therefore you might need a universal purpose for being there.

We discussed project work, problem solving and/or collective need could be useful for

all parties. An open project might bring people together in a more organic way.

Bringing people's attention to a city-wide problem might entice all to get stuck in and

help. Asking what is a ‘collective-need’ for all of us might make us closer to find a

solution. Maybe this will strike desire in people to connect and get involved.

A great suggestion came up as we were reviewing the question for the last time: why

not introduce more competition? Healthy competition can bring people together to

collaborate if used correctly. Flora pointed out that the Place Prize, UK's biggest dance

showcase (which is a competition), is so well attended. Is this just because there's a

competition element? Would people turn up just for a night of four newly

commissioned works?

Another great comment is that sometimes we defend ourselves from things we don't

know. It's crucial to feel like you belong in your form (art form or otherwise) while you

connect with others different to you, while still being open. A gathering needs to feel

like a personal journey that is you and not forced on you. A gathering should make you

consider why you make your work, define why or anything in between.

I promised I would write a tweet on why I think these sustained gatherings are

important:

For a sense of belonging and an active curiosity about others and other art that you

can observe or participate in, naturally making your own work bloom!

Thank you to all involved, I really enjoyed the session. Hope this report is an OK

representation of that.

Comments would be fantastic…

Tags:

power, learning, politics, partnership, Citizen, Collaboration, Learning, Creative,

competition, purpose, Power, desire, peterborough, belong, RSA, collaboration,

gatherings, Partnership, creative

Comments: 3

Jocelyn Cunningham, 28 January 2013

Hi everybody,

Such a rich question and one close to my heart. I think the key to this is understanding the motivation in the first place. Why

do people come to a gathering, be this a D &D or a gathering in Peterborough? Curiosity, potential of work arising…, seeing

friends, interest in the theme - I think these played a part in the Peterborough gatherings. It does need to feel urgent in

some way, that there is something to tackle that is really relevant to you. But there is a danger in organisers determining

what the collective need is - hence the value of the open space dynamic. I feel I am missing something by not being there

this weekend. Missing seeing people i often only see at D &D's, missing the thinking and surprises. There is a community

that has arisen through the D & D's and I think this is key. That such gatherings generate community as opposed to the

other way around.

Interesting points in the discussion. I don't think that competition is the opposite of collaboration and can be very effective

but in the end a competition-like event is a project not the gathering itself and can be a distraction. And confidence is critical

in people's willingness to come to an open ended event with many you don't know. But it's not confidence in your work.

Most of the regular attendees in the Peterborough gatherings were emerging artists. It takes confidence to air your ideas

and be challenged and reflect - this can be harder the more experienced you are.

Isn't this about the art of invitation? And that is hard when you are trying to create a new way of being together, not a

campaign, not a project, just valuing being together in a reflective space to address things close to your heart and work. I

think the notion of belonging is central and that sense of the gathering being special, a unique and precious thing. I agree

that a task, something practical to do together helps. And crucial that such gatherings reach out to those you don't know,

beyond the existing communities and create an inbuilt and ongoing diversity. Something that the D & D's have done. So,

how to do this at a more local level….

Jocelyn

Jocelyn Cunningham, 28 January 2013

Hi everybody,

Such a rich question and one close to my heart. I think the key to this is understanding the motivation in the first place. Why

do people come to a gathering, be this a D &D or a gathering in Peterborough? Curiosity, potential of work arising…, seeing

friends, interest in the theme - I think these played a part in the Peterborough gatherings. It does need to feel urgent in

some way, that there is something to tackle that is really relevant to you. But there is a danger in organisers determining

what the collective need is - hence the value of the open space dynamic. I feel I am missing something by not being there

this weekend. Missing seeing people i often only see at D &D's, missing the thinking and surprises. There is a community

that has arisen through the D & D's and I think this is key. That such gatherings generate community as opposed to the

other way around.

Interesting points in the discussion. I don't think that competition is the opposite of collaboration and can be very effective

but in the end a competition-like event is a project not the gathering itself and can be a distraction. And confidence is critical

in people's willingness to come to an open ended event with many you don't know. But it's not confidence in your work.

Most of the regular attendees in the Peterborough gatherings were emerging artists. It takes confidence to air your ideas

and be challenged and reflect - this can be harder the more experienced you are.

Isn't this about the art of invitation? And that is hard when you are trying to create a new way of being together, not a

campaign, not a project, just valuing being together in a reflective space to address things close to your heart and work. I

think the notion of belonging is central and that sense of the gathering being special, a unique and precious thing. I agree

that a task, something practical to do together helps. And crucial that such gatherings reach out to those you don't know,

beyond the existing communities and create an inbuilt and ongoing diversity. Something that the D & D's have done. So,

how to do this at a more local level….

Jocelyn

Tom Fox, 30 January 2013

Open Space Urgency - thats key, definitely!

Finding a way to generate a community without anticipating their needs and wants.

Takes confidence to air your ideas - may become harder the more experienced you are.

Valuing being together in a reflective space to address things close to your heart and work

A special, unique and precious thing.

Sorry for repeating you Jocelyn but these points I think are very important, so thank you very much.

I definitely agree with you about competition. In the title of this session it may have sounded I wanted to take a ‘negative’

into a ‘positive’. But I think it's just a different way of working. Competition can turn into collaboration very successfully. I

think what I was trying to explore was how do you create collaboration without using competition at all, healthy are

otherwise. Your opinion on it being a distraction is something that's a very crucial one. Especially building an environment

where people are comfortable to express themselves practically.

Unique Open Space Practical Urgency - For Reflection On Things Close to You

As you can see I still am trying to fit all the pieces together to find a way to continue this on a ‘local level’ without excluding

people outside of a already build community, as Jocelyn says above.

The art of invitation! Absolutely. Drive and follow-up is important to sustain a model like this. Instead of one-off gatherings…

people know that it will continue to something else (another gathering or something else).

NEXT STAGES

I will set up a meeting with Richard Jaques who lives near Stamford who was present in the session, who had brilliant ideas

and passion on this subject.

I will e-mail a selection of participants in the Creative Gatherings last year, and request anything that they feel was

important for them to be apart of them.

I'd like to thank Jocelyn for her advice and mentoring.

Comments on anyones thoughts would be fantastic.