Arts Practices and Conversational Approaches in Eco-Social Living Labs
The five Eco-Social Living Labs are currently hiring artists and planning for situated Arts Practices and Conversational Approaches. The implementation of Arts Conversations is structured around three interconnected levels: local, strategic and international that together forms an iterative methodology guiding practice, reflection and translocal learning.
Iterative arts conversation methodology by INNATURE.
Local Co-Creation Conversations are used to engage communities creatively in the exploration of social and ecological questions put forward locally in each case. These activities are place-based and will give voice to diverse participants and connect with biodiversity. Learning from and informing these local processes, Strategic Imaginaries bring together communities, researchers and strategic actors to reflect on emerging insights and explore future-oriented perspectives. These activities connect local experiences with broader discussions on ecological transformation through Nature-based-solutions and New European Bauhaus values. Further, International Reflections activities enable exchange between the different Eco-Social Living Labs, supporting cross-case learning and the identification of shared patterns, challenges and opportunities. Through these processes, experiences from different contexts are brought into dialogue, contributing to the gradual development of the Arts Conversations methodology. The arts conversations in INNATURE will be guided by shared values that embeds NEB in Eco-Social Living Labs.
Acting and knowing together
Arts Conversations are not stand-alone events. They are integrated in the social methodology of Eco-Social Living Labs. To act and know together, it is crucial to build relationships and trust between diverse participants and stakeholders by taking time, being physically present on site, and valuing what is already there. Acting and knowing together with local communities, arts practices–in both digital and physical spaces can overcome barriers of communication and support empowerment of marginalised actors.
The pictures are from the rehearsal of the first Arts Conversation in Rain Common in Copenhagen. By artist Maj Horn.
Continuity supported by new imaginaries
Continuity supported by new imaginaries is valuable for attending to and caring for relationships and nature. Arts Conversations can make visible and enhance community engagement, skills and knowledge in everyday spaces. New imaginaries initiated by artists and co-created with communities can make the invisible visible–from haystacks to meadows to anchor activities and support continuity.
Open-ended outcomes accommodating uncertainty
Arts Conversations are valuable for bringing out existing practices and customs; translating and interpreting between diverse positions; and introducing new imaginaries and creative perspectives on changing, uncertain conditions. Such mind-changing processes require tolerance for open-ended outcomes and intermediate conclusions.
Mobilising arts across levels and silo-thinking
The creative and open formats of Arts Conversations can positively privilege code-switching and common-sense making across levels and silo-thinking. The mobilisation of arts practices in nature-based-solutions nurtures local anchoring and actively support mind-changing processes not only towards intended outcomes but for new unexpected outcomes to emerge.
Author:
Heidi Svenningsen Kajita
University of Copenhagen
Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management