This summer we ran Future Soundings, an immersive workshop and performance that engages people in futures and decision making, at two events in Bristol.
The first was Futures Now, a festival of futures in the making, at the Pervasive Media Studio, curated and funded by the Centre for Sociodigital Futures. The day of activities explored alternative social and digital futures.
Following this we were invited to be a part of the Brigstow Institute’s annual Embodied Research Symposium exploring physical and sensory experiences in creative practice and academic research.
The workshop usually involves around 20 people. Participants take a short walk through their immediate environment, guided by an app on their phone that prompts them to imagine travelling forward through time, asking them to describe what they see and hear. Responses from all participants are then woven together and performed as a singular speculative narrative with an improvised soundtrack of music and field recordings.
The questions the participants answer on their walk are adapted to each specific context and focus for the event. We have found that it is a useful way for individuals and organisations to think through and imagine alternative futures together. And because these futures are experienced through sound it offers increased space for our imaginations.
Do get in touch if you are interested in us running a workshop with you or your organisation.
Below is a recording of the performance at Futures Now. All the words you hear were written by participants. Make yourself comfortable, find some headphones, listen to the full 18 minutes, or dip in and out…
Spatial sound performance of pariticipants' imaginings at the Embodied Research symposium
Jess and Duncan sharing particitpants' imagined future at Futures Now