THINK / NATIONAL CONVERSATION
ONEANDOTHER.COM
The York Conversationan Experiment in Democracy “I’M HERE OUT OF A MIX OF INTRIGUE AND FRUSTRATION. AND BECAUSE I LOVE LEGO!” The motivations for attending the National Conversation event we co-hosted at The Creative Chapel last month all seemed to toe the same line, regardless of age, background, or political preference. Of course, our promise of exploring and expressing attitudes to the welfare state via the medium of Lego also proved a universal draw. To coincide with National Democracy Week, we teamed up with National Conversation to pilot an exciting experiment in democracy. Lead by cultural change agency Change The Conversation, the 16 participants (made up of local residents and students) engaged in a series of exercises, including “serious Lego play” to exchange views on their ‘ideal’ and ‘nightmare’ politicians and
what the future of the welfare state might hold. Thousands of Lego bricks were used over the course of three hours to build 3D models to brainstorm a future for the welfare state. The technique’s ability to activate hands and minds on such a complex issue was immediately apparent, with some impressive forts prompting LMMX NZMM ÆW_QVO LQ[K][[QWV[ than would otherwise be expected amongst strangers. York was seen as the optimal location to pilot a 21st century version of the National Conversation that accompanied the publishing of the Beveridge report 70 years ago: the city is geographically removed from the Westminster bubble; it has a vibrant civic culture, and it ties in nicely with the 800-year anniversary of York becoming a self-governing city.
78
That assumption rang true as the participants seemed thoroughly absorbed in the careful construction of their answers to the political prompts, with the resulting debates goodnatured whilst thoroughly thought provoking. With the National Conversation due to report back to Parliament as to the best means of improving grassroots discussion of big issues, (as the pictures probably testify) this “building” experiment will likely be one of the forums that is adopted elsewhere as a means of encouraging democracy and extending the civic core. Everybody who attended can be proud they played their part in its inception!