What Are Imaginings? Where Did They Come From?
From 2014 to 2016, the USDAC (U.S. Department of Arts and Culture) collaborated with three cohorts of volunteer Cultural Agents, each forming a learning community to support their local cultural organizing efforts. Each Cultural Agent hosted a public gathering using arts-based methods to envision their communities’ futures. These gatherings, known as Imaginings, combined elements of performance, facilitated dialogue, and celebration. They brought together artists, organizers, and community members to imagine what their neighborhoods (and the world) might look like in 20 years if art’s transformative power were fully integrated into all aspects of public life. Participants were invited not only to dream together but also to catalyze collaborations to help make those dreams a reality.
Imaginings emerged as a unique method for fostering community dialogue and cultural organizing. After supporting three rounds of Cultural Agents and Imaginings, we’ve gathered enough insights and techniques to enable Citizen Artists to create their own Imaginings.
Why Imaginings?
Imaginings were developed to invite people into a space of social imagination that differs significantly from conventional planning processes. Traditional methods such as public hearings, polls, charrettes, and focus groups often have predetermined outcomes and can make it difficult to prioritize what truly matters in people’s lived experiences.
Key Principles of Imaginings:
1. Value First-Person Experience: Imaginings prioritize firsthand experiences over credentialed expertise, ensuring that every voice is heard and valued.
2. Flexibility and Adaptability: The tools and techniques used in Imaginings are designed to be flexible, allowing participants to adapt them to their own needs and contexts.
3. Creativity and Imagination: Creativity is central to Imaginings. The artistic elements are not an afterthought but are given equal importance alongside the goals of communication, understanding, and collaboration.
By focusing on these principles, Imaginings create a more inclusive and imaginative space for community dialogue, allowing participants to explore and envision their shared futures collaboratively.
Imaginings provide a powerful framework for communities to come together, harness the transformative power of art, and initiate meaningful collaborations that can help turn their collective dreams into reality. Whether you are an artist, organizer, or community member, this guide will equip you with the knowledge and tools needed to host your own Imagining and foster arts-based community dialogue.