TOOL’S CATEGORY:

collective articulation   communication   entanglement   generating intimacy   game   operating from care   resilience   value system

DESCRIPTION:

A methodology originated from social movements and the field of systemic facilitation to promote the culture of collaboration. Systemic facilitation investigates, organises and structures the relationship between individuals, collectives, communities, projects and networks. Its aim is that the information of the collective as a ‘system’ may emerge by means of thoughts, sensations and feelings. It is a useful tool for getting awareness both of individual and collective reality; strengthening the feeling of belonging to a group or organisation; reconnecting with the power of history and values; increasing commitment to future vision; activating resources and skills of the members of the collective; speeding up decision-making processes; preventing and managing conflicts; designing possible and accessible action plans, with the commitment of those involved…

INSTRUCTIONS:

Possible itinerary: (1) Collectively agree on a generative question/topic/need. (2) Start with a space of active listening to address the question/topic/need. Each one expresses, briefly, their current status. Each one is invited to connect with the question from body, mind and feelings. (3) Collect individual perceptions in writing. Writing is often used as a channel to collect and make visible what different voices express, moving from individual towards collective. (4) Share all the voices with the group to create a collective field. 

YOU WILL NEED:

A systemic facilitator. You will also need a space allowing both the entire group and small groups to work, equipped with any necessary furniture. It might be useful to have large sheets of paper, markers, post-its or other writing/drawing materials. 

TIPS / CAVEATS:

This methodology comes from social movements, and is quite effective when implemented in cultural contexts. 

FUNCTION IN TE( N ) CUIDADO:

Systemic facilitation has been a key tool in the development of the project. It has helped us in promoting the creation of spaces and processes of collective articulation. It has also been useful when specifying the name of the project, defining its values and pillars together with those of the collective launching it, activating dynamics of collaboration and co-creation between agents and collectives from the same or from different fields (academic field, artistic practices and civil society), in the development of programmes for co-creation sessions, and in monitoring and assessing the project.