Designing Together: Exploring New Alliances for Cultural Futures

Co-conceived by Flumi AC and researcher Claudia Zampella (Elisava Research, Barcelona), whose PhD on Co-governance for Transition provides the theoretical foundation of the methodology, this project explores how cultural ecosystems can reshape their collaborative futures.

In November 2025, we designed and facilitated a participatory world-building lab in Genoa during the event “Designing Together: What Connections for a Changing World?”, funded by Reset! Network and developed with Forevergreen, coordinating logistics and the artistic programme, and Parsec, responsible for communication and outreach.

We brought together 60+ professionals from Bologna, Genoa and Turin, independent cultural spaces, performing arts organizations, advocacy structures, and public administrations, to imagine new forms of shared governance.

Participants entered a speculative narrative scenario addressing urban transformations and access to cultural production.

Through agonistic collaboration, guided negotiation and collective decision-making, each group explored tensions and temporarily aligned on shared priorities.

Preparation involved ecosystem mapping, curated invitations to ensure balanced representation, and iterative design of the experience: story setting, pacing, and disruptive events to challenge assumptions and shift perspectives.

We also coordinated onboarding with facilitators, visual facilitators and photographers to ensure coherence in language and methods.
The session resulted in an alliances prototype between different actors as well as a shared understanding of future responsibilities in a changing landscape.

Designed as a replicable methodology, this pilot lays the groundwork for new models of governance and long-term collaboration within urban cultural ecosystems.

Visual documentation by Tratto Vivo.