October, 2007 Renaissance Collaboration & Universarium Traveling Fair
The Renaissance Collaboration is a citizen-led program of regional renewal - people working together for a genuine and secure sustainability. The aim is to set a process in motion for rebalancing their home region so it becomes ecologically viable, economically vital, socially equitable and inclusive.
The program starts by forming a broad-based collaboration to foster participation and momentum in a region. This issues in dozens of community-action meetings within interest groups, networks, neighbourhoods and sectors. It is then punctuated by the focal high-point event, a three-month visit by the Universarium Traveling Fair. The Fair draws large numbers of citizens to join forces to implement high-leverage Renaissance Projects in the months after the Fair, projects that have the best chance of setting their region on-course for long-term sustainability. Together, the Collaboration, the Fair and the Renaissance Projects form a process of citizen engagement on a meaningful scale for a meaningful purpose.
This process, described as systems thinking consistently applied, is being piloted now in the Toronto Region. In 2009, the first Universarium Traveling Fair will be held at Ontario Place on Toronto's waterfront. After this, it will move and set up for three months in region after region around North America and beyond.
In many ways, Universarium will be like many big fairs and theme parks. 250,000 visitors. Three theme areas. World-class entertainment. People and families having fun. In other ways, it will be quite different. Imagine theme areas, exhibits and media happenings that engage Fair-goers in enjoyable, creative activities. At the same time they will be inspired to envision a new society, the kind of society we want and need, and the role each of us could play in bringing this society into being.
At the Fair, citizens will connect with the Renaissance Collaboration and its regional renewal program. They are invited to sign up right away for at least one regional Renaissance Project going forward. The creativity of thousands will be connected. A new network is powered up and ready to go.
Universarium is being produced by the Ecologos Institute in partnership with Ontario Place and Lord Cultural Resources Inc., the internationally respected planner of major cultural events including World Fairs. The nucleus of the Renaissance Collaboration in Toronto is formed by Ontario Place, the Canadian Urban Institute, the Toronto & Region Conservation Authority, and the Ecologos Institute. Others are being invited to join in and Renaissance Projects are getting started.