To kickstart the Unit and to ground the work, we’re devising two four-day Democracy Story Labs. Coming together as co-conspirators we’ll be convening thought leaders, movement builders, technologists, journalists and whistle blowers from across civil society with storytellers from around the world. Forging new collaborations between creatives, campaigners and strategists working on democratic renewal. The task: to discuss what narratives we need now in this moment of global democratic crisis, and distill how we can implement impact with these stories.
The first lab will be in London (November 27 - December 1, 2023), with a second lab in Q1 of 2024 in Brazil in partnership with Peri, a new cultural impact studio founded by our friend, Alessandra Orofino.
For our first Democracy Story Lab, we will be inviting 10-12 media projects to join us, to brainstorm and weave critical conversations around strategy and effectiveness of political narratives in this moment.
Reflecting on storytelling of the last two decades, we’ve noticed that the ‘democracy’ narratives tend to fit into four categories:
Anti-corruption narratives: show citizens how their systems are being abused and pushed back against; reassure citizens that accountability is possible (maintain faith in democracy)
Examples: The Edge of Democracy, Citizenfour, Dark Money
Representation narratives: showing how representative candidates run for - and sometimes win - office
Examples: Knock Down the House, And She Could Be Next, Softie, An Insignificant Man
Citizen Power outside the system: Films that show the power of participation by those that join movements for change.
Examples: The Square, Rebellion, Whose Streets?
New Democratic Models: films that seek new ways to do democracy, beyond the current model.
Examples: People vs. Climate Change, Democrats
Some of these stories aim to protect, strengthen, and improve the existing system, while others showcase and encourage an evolution of the system. For the lab, we’re hoping to engage projects that fit into any of these categories but are particularly interested in those that look forwards to new models of democratic renewal.
Learn more and apply to the Democracy Story Lab here.