OS Belgrade
Phelim McDermott
phelim at mac.com
Fri Oct 10 10:12:25 PDT 2008
Hi Folks,
It's Phelim here from my hotel room in Belgrade lying on my bed like a
great big butterfly! (Think of it as an alternative Kafka story with a
positive bent). I just finished facilitating a three day open space
event set up for us by the British Council here. It was for the
disability community in Serbia. Our question was "How can individuals
and institutions contribute to a more inclusive society?." I am lying
here with my heart opened by the extraordinary experience. There were
amazing contributions, experiences and projects which have been
supported as both initial dreams and tangible projects to leave the
room. From an online forum, to a fashion clothing and catwalk project
for disabled people, to a bus that will give children in the south who
never see any theatre a chance to see puppet shows. The creativity
and spirit has been both awesome and humbling. A real diversity of
professions, feet and wheels! Gorgeous!
This event itself has grown out of series of five open spaces set up
across Europe called creative collaborations. Istannbul. Varna,
Jerusalem, Athens, Bucharest and this final one grew from a someone
being inspired to make it happen on our first on in Istanbul. All
using open space to support inter country collaborations. We have
learnt so much from tis journey as we have mentored our own company in
facilitating different ones and learnt how wonderful open space is for
meeting the creative spirits that inspire us in this world. The
British council have been amazing and have embraced open space as a
form that can really create change often we have seen processes from
skepticism to advocates.
Chris your document came at just the right time to support me around
opening space for convergence as I was keen to do after working with
Lisa and Wosonos thanks for that.
Of course there is so much to talk about but in our closing circle
people were amazed at the event and this meeting had never happened
for this community on any level in Serbia before. I can't tell you how
big the challenges are for disabled people here! As ever in my
experience the answer to the question posed can be summed up simply
"By finding ways to do what we just did: open hearts.. Open space."
Anyway must FLY off to see "Candoco" the beautiful disabled dance
company the British council have brought to perform here as a
celebration of disability and creativity!
Love and smiles
Phelim
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