Ways of knowing in neighbourhood planning: Policy V. Zine
Policy: A policy is a deliberate system of principles to guide decisions and achieve rational outcomes. A policy is a statement of intent, and is implemented as a procedure or protocol.
Zine: Zines are self-published, small-circulation, often nonprofit books, papers, or websites. They usually deal with topics too controversial or niche for mainstream media, presented in an unpolished layout and unusual design.
In this event we unpick the logics of ‘policy’. Policy implies both rational ways of knowing the world and confidence in the ability for intended outcomes to be achieved through planned action. Given the complexity of ‘communities’ and ‘neighbourhoods’, the number of people, relationships and variables, we seek to explore alternatives to the logic of rational intent and cause and effect. Through a series of different workshops which explore creative modes of knowing together and being together, we will explore ways of knowing which emerge from the people concerned and connected directly to local and localized decision making. We will be focusing particularly on the role of the arts in local decision-making processes. We will be looking at community film -making, young people and political processes and forms of cultural engagement within neighbourhood planning processes.
Throughout the day we will document our journey with an alternative form of knowing and sharing – the zine. This day will be experiential and will also be about the concept of building community and making sense of representation in different ways, constructing a space together. The day will end with an evening projection of films concerning neighbourhoods, community and ways of knowing.