Open Space Technology (OST) is a process for facilitating complex meetings. It is people-centred and result-orientated. OST allows people to broach difficult subjects together and address conflict. Participants in Open Space meetings are empowered by being made responsible for their own interests, desires and actions. OS meetings have involved anything between 5 and over 2000 participants. Based on the philosophy of self-organising systems, OST invests in the concept that people do best when they represent themselves. Developed by American facilitator Harrison Owen in the nineties, OST has four tenets. They are; ‘Whoever comes is the right people’; ‘When it’s over it’s over’; ‘Whenever it starts is the right time’; and ‘Whatever happens is the only thing that could have’. There is one law; ‘The law of two feet’; anyone can walk away from any discussion at any time. The tenets are designed to foster a relaxed, inclusive atmosphere, and to encourage engaged group-work and cross-fertilisation of ideas. The law affords the individual responsibility for his or her presence, open-mindedness and actions.

For more on Open Space Technology go to URL http://www.openspaceworld.org

10-12th June 2011: We take back the power, three day residential Open Space event on Community Arts Initiatives Empowerment in Ireland (Lead Facilitator), www.bluedrum.ie

14th May 2011: Tulca 2011 presents Open Space for New Horizons: A Lecture & experimental workshop with Susanne Bosch. New artforms / organisatorial forms conquer Galway (Lead Facilitator), www.tulca.ie

9th Dec 2010:  Next Steps Meeting FOR PEACE, Grosvenor House, Belfast, invited by Irish Peace Centres, Belfast (Lead Facilitator)  http://www.irishpeacecentres.org/conferences

10th Sept 2010: Open Space on FOR PEACE in Holiday Inn Hotel, Belfast, invited by Irish Peace Centres, Belfast (Lead Facilitator)    
http://www.irishpeacecentres.org/conferences

19th June 2010: Open Space on “Utopian Art Education in Mexican Art Universities” in Centro Cultural Universitario, Mexico City (Lead Facilitator), http://www.muac.unam.mx/proyectos/campusexpandido/paralelas/005.html

27th Febuary 2010: Open Space on „The neighboorhood La Latin wants to be heard“, Madrid, Spain (active agent for the neighboorhood), http://www.huchadedeseos.wordpress.com

9th-11th October 2009: Facilitation of 3 day residential open space On Sustainability (Lead Facilitator), sponsored by The 7th Generation Project and Corrymeela, Northern Ireland
http://7thgenerationproject.ning.com/

2nd May 2009: Open Space on Whatever you say, say something...Approaches to Community Conflict in Northern Ireland, sponsored by CRC, venue: Groundworks, Belfast (Lead Facilitator)

23rd-26th April 2009: Organized as Sponsor an International Open Space Technology Learning Exchange in Belfast, together with Opening Spaces Ireland, funded by CRC and Interface, UU.
http://openingspaces.wordpress.com
http://interfacebelfast.com
http://www.boscop.de

14th January 2009: Open Space on The Nature of Peace, sponsored by the Peace People, venue: CAF, Belfast

12th November 2008: Open Space on ISEA Pre-Symposium on 'How can we be a catalyst for the next generation innovation in Digitial Technology?', sponsored by ISEA, venue: Black Box, Belfast

10th - 16th September  2008: Organized as Sponsor an International Open Space Technology Training in Belfast, together with Dr. Cherie Driver, funded by CRC and Interface, UU.

http://interfacebelfast.com
http://www.boscop.de