Here’s a plug for The Project

Who knows where its heading- but come along for the ride! Here’s the detail;

In August this year, Greenbelt Festival hosted a conversation for anyone interested in exploring the possibility of doing something like Greenbelt in Scotland. So a second meeting took place in Perth in November to take things a step further.

So ‘The PROJECT‘ was born… an interim process of small, viral, organic events during 2009 & 2010, building to the possibility of a larger event in 2011.

These small events would allow us to flesh out what a bigger event might look like; to more immediately model the kind of thing a larger event would contain; and to build a community of folk who’d be able to make a larger event happen.

It was clear at both meetings that any future event in Scotland should have its own identity, should grow out of Scottish culture and concerns, and not merely attempt to imitate Greenbelt. Although initially inspired by the spirit that Greenbelt (and other events) manifests, ‘The PROJECT‘ should develop a distinct Scottish nature, responding to the specific conditions, context and needs of this place and time.

WHAT IS ‘THE PROJECT‘?

A series of interim events leading to a larger festival event. As yet, there’s no specific shape or clear consensus about a larger event’s length, breadth, geography or season.

Whatever we end up with would be inspired initially by the spirit of Greenbelt, but should also learn from other Scottish & European models such as Street Level, Carberry Ferstival, Kirchentag or even the Edinburgh festival, The Mod, Celtic Connections.

The ‘interfaces of engagement’ would be: arts – faith – theology – ecology – politics – philosophy – spirituality – justice… basically celebration, inspiration, irreverence, laughter, tears, questions, argument, friendship, shivers up the spine – add your own noun to the list.

PROCESS & PEOPLE

The Perth meeting tasked Dot Reid, Graham Maule and John Cross to identify people who would be on an initial interim Steering Group.

There is some concern that ‘The PROJECT’ should not be owned by larger organisations, or become institutionalised. So that task brief was to identify people in terms of their interest and ability to take things to the next stage (and not in terms of being ‘representatives’ of organisations).

The interim Steering Group will organise 2 events in 2009 to bring people together and to help think through the possibilities of ‘The PROJECT’.

This group is not intended as a permanent group, but would commit to the interim 2009-2010 stage. If there is then judged to be enough energy and enthusiasm for the large event by that time, a new steering group appropriate to any more extensive undertaking would be formed.

INTERESTED?

if you want to join the community of like-minded people engaged in the task of realising ‘The PROJECT‘, you can join this Facebook group.

Or you can join a similar group on Bebo.

You can visit ‘The PROJECT‘’s interim website for details of the thinking behind ‘The PROJECT‘ and to find out about the events that will be taking place over the next couple of years.

And you can start to spread the word… tell your friends and colleagues about ‘The PROJECT‘ and get them to register their interest.

Dot Reid, John Cross Graham Maule.