USING UTOPIAS TO DREAM OF A BETTER CREATIVE SECTOR
We’ve been thinking a lot about the concept of "Utopia" lately and trying to figure out what it actually costs us today to bring about a genuinely Utopian future. Here Agency Producer Sid Boyer shares some of our thinking.
"Utopia" - a recurring theme in the creative and cultural sectors
The word utopia has been bandied about without much follow through these past few years in the cultural sector.
For every exhibition about civilisations near collapse there seems to be another encouraging us all to imagine a world where we’ve fixed it all.
It’s easy to go to workshops and shows full of examples of how they’re doing it in Scandinavia and think, ah that looks nice, and then head home and return to reality. What’s been frustrating about ‘utopia’ as a trend is how irregularly that invitation to dreaming is tied to change making, strategy, or resource.
Using 'Utopia' as a Compass
Last August (when Rising was infamously resting) I was able to go along to a workshop about utopias that left me feeling like we might actually get there.
It wasn’t about what my utopia might look like or anyone else's, but how to use utopia as a compass in all decision making on the way there. The workshop, led by Viv Kuh and Bec Gee, pointed out that any one time someone in the past has gotten to choose what the utopia will look like and then goes full pelt into making that happen it’s looked a lot like fascism.
BUT when all people are given power to make decisions and all decisions are made with the best possible outcome as the guide you’re moving towards collective utopia.
It got me thinking when I sent an email or planned an event, what was the best possible outcome of that ‘small’ decision. Rather than booking the same old venue, why was I making that choice and what would the perfect space for that event look like?
If the perfect venue might of been a beach in Barbados, I might then ditch the small cafe that’s conveniently next to the office and instead host outdoors with a view of the river, using Bardbados as my compass to utopia.
The workshop provided tangible skills in approaching the world and how we move through it with critical thought, confidence, defiance and hope.
What does this all mean for our creative and cultural sectors?
Armed with energy to ask for more, Viv, Bec and myself hosted a day of utopian thinking and making for the Rising Community, looking specifically at Bristol’s Arts and Culture sector. Eek.
Completely exhausted by talking about how sh*t things have been for creatives, it felt grounding to reconnect with what our base level asks and needs are from arts institutions in Bristol.
We were lucky enough to be able to commission one of the artists to record and creatively respond to the day with an audio piece you can listen to here. I love this piece because it doesn’t have the twinkly dreamy noises often associated with high sky thinking, instead you can hear the weight and importance or utopia and our desire for it today.
Please have a listen, (it’s 5 mins long) and take 10 minutes out of your day to think about what this sector that we all care about and lots of us depend on, would look like in a utopia.
Email me your reflections, send me Voicenotes! Drawings! Pipe Cleaner sculptures! Rising wants to hear what this city has to say and what your dreams are for more.
We can’t promise you your dreams but we can commit to using them as our compass and taking tangible action to ensure this is a sector that celebrates, empowers and demands more for everyone who lives here.
Thank you for reading this. If you want to support us to embed accessibility across the sector and beyond, please consider joining the Rising Alliance or increasing your regular donation.
