British council open space

[Melllissa Norman]

Hi Phelim

Hope you are well.

Just wanted to say that sounds amasing, and am glad that the British 
council are supporting work like this!

take care

Mel


Phelim McDermott wrote:
> Here are the links to the British council website
>
> about the creative collaborations project
>
> http://www.britishcouncil.org/macedonia-arts-creative-collaboration.htm
>
> http://www.britishcouncil.org/arts-creative-collaborations.htm
>
> hopefully this is just a beginning.
>
> Phelim x
>
> On 10 Oct 2008, at 18:12, Phelim McDermott wrote:
>
>> 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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