This paper puts forward a 'curatorial approach' to systems transitions, which is a novel, practical and transparent way to deal with participation in complex and conflictual contexts. We argue that the complexity of transitions cannot be adequately addressed through traditional analytical tools. Alternatively, we propose an approach that can engage with multiple ways of knowing and expression, sustaining and developing a sense of 'meaning' in the planning process. We situate this within a systems perspective that combines individual and structural actions for vision creation. This is explored in the case study of a large peri-urban asset in Rome. "esperti locali ed internazionali sono stati i nostri canali imprese e cittadini nel lavoro sono stati vicini terra, acqua e sole più fatti e meno parole" Fragment of a poem composed by participants during the workshop in Rome.
Communities of Practice (CoPs), it is argued, are loci for creativity, innovation and problem-solving. Instigating a CoP and harnessing this creative energy from an external position (be it institutional or individual) is, however, problematic. Literature surrounding CoPs emphasises the delicate manner in which they are formed and sustained. Those instigating these communities from an external position, such as curators, managers, or educators, do so at the risk of undermining some of CoPs' fundamental qualities. Namely: the fluid social relations, the level of informality and the processes of self-selection and moderation that characterise CoPs. Asking the question 'how, if possible, can one instigate creatively-oriented CoPs?'-in particular those composed of experts working within limited timeframes-this paper analyses eleven newly formed groups partaking in an experimental design biennial (BIO50) organised to foster collaborative learning and practice. The study focuses on the relationship between a curatorial structure with high degrees of ambiguity and participant collaboration. The paper provides practical implications and theoretical elaborations for those seeking to organise creative collaborations.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.