OpenSpace has all the energy of a good coffee break, and guarantees that whatever is most important to the participants will be addressed during the event. Bring your passion, and create the event you want!
More information can be found on the Open Space World wiki.
General outline
Open Space events typically last two and a half days, with two sessions each morning and two or three in the afternoon, but the formula is mutable.
On arrival at the event, there is an Opening Circle where participants write up sessions on large sheets of paper, announce them to the group, and tape them to a wall in a grid pattern: rows are approximate session start times and columns are session locations. Optionally, people can write their names on sessions they're interested in attending, but only the person who created a session is obligated to be there when it starts.
At the end of the event, there is usually a Closing Circle where everyone comes together to reflect on what they've experienced.
Guidelines
- Whoever comes (to the event or to a session) is the right people.
- Whenever it starts is the right time.
- It's over when it's over.
- Whatever happens is the only thing that could have.
- Be prepared to be surprised.
Law of Two Feet
This is the only law of Open Space. It states that if you don't feel you're contributing or gaining anything from the session you're currently in, you have an obligation to use your feet and find another session or activity.
Characters
- The "bumblebee" is a person who uses the Law of Two Feet a lot, moving around between many sessions and cross-pollinating ideas.
- The "butterfly" is just beautiful. He/she may not go to any of the posted sessions, but may attract people to impromptu meetings instead.
SolSeed Open Space events to date
- Seed 2009
- Sol 2009
- Longest Night Festival (also 2009)
- Seed 2011