Narratives for Cultural Evolution
Rhizome is a twelve month program for narrative change practitioners focused on the transition to a post Anthropocentric world. We are seeking storytellers, artists, system-economic thinkers, communicators, land defenders, researchers, journalists, community organizers, and academics from diverse contexts. These fellows will come together to create culture hacking interventions in support of life.
The namesake of this program is an ode to the underground architecture of root-like structures which are interconnected, mutually reinforcing, heterogeneous, experimental and evolutionary. From its nodes, Rhizomes send out roots and shoots growing new life.
Application Closes Feb 25, 2022
Fellowship starts May 1, 2022
Culture in the Anthropocene
We believe that we cannot create the deep systemic shifts that are required without narrative practitioners focused on disrupting the core assumptions of capitalist modernity and creating the conditions for new/ancient/emergent narratives that are life-centric. These practitioners will need the critical, technical and cultural skills that are commensurate with the meta-crisis. The Culture Hack platform, methodology and approach is a contribution towards building these capacities while democratizing tools and knowledge access that can transform the critical narrative landscapes of our time and allow for deep collaboration between groups to coalesce around shared narratives.
Fellowship Impact Areas
Indigenous Custodianship & Climate Crises
Reimagining the Commons & Rights of Nature
Decolonisation & Deep Diversity
Post Capitalist & Degrowth Economics
Food Sovereignty & Local Autonomies
What to Expect
There is no cost for participating in this program. Fellows will receive access to the CHL platform, training on narrative change methodology and tools, guidance and support from trained practitioners and a community of shared practice. The aim of this fellowship is to support and be integrated into the existing work of the fellows.
Phase I: Foundation Setting (May - July)
In the first three months we will create shared understandings, language, sense-making approaches and familiarization with the Culture Hack platform and tools.
Phase II: Hacking the Narrative (July - Dec)
We will move into a six-month campaigning phase where the fellows will be focused on a narrative intervention. These interventions will be linked by shared frames, core logics, and actions to create a systems-level approach to shifting cultural meta-narratives around seemingly disparate issues like economic inequality, food sovereignty, land rights, the commons, racial justice, gender justice and ecological breakdown.
Phase III: Reflect and Refine (Jan - May)
The final four months will be to refine lessons and update narrative interventions in real-time, so each member of the cohort can learn and incorporate the lessons of all the other interventions.
Fellows Selection Criteria
◎ We are curating a group with a variety of diverse geographies, genders, cultures, epistemologies, and backgrounds with a focus on historically marginalized peoples with a focus on the global South communities, Indigenous peoples, people of color, womxn, and LGBTQ+.
◎ We are seeking those that are already active in their communities with a focus on narrative work. This includes community organizers, journalists, movement leaders, system-economic thinkers, narrative practitioners, land defenders, artists, etc.
◎ We are looking for those who already have an understanding of the structural causes of inequality, structural racism and other systemic oppression.
◎ Participants have a desire to learn the CHL methodology and tools, as this will be a core part of the fellowship experience.
◎ The focus will be on those committed to training and sharing the knowledge within their respective communities after completing the fellowship.
◎ Access to reliable internet connection will be required to attend online gatherings.
◎ There will be a requirement to join one call a week and engage in self study. The time commitments may vary during each phase of the fellowship.
Application Closes Feb 25
Culture Hack Labs 2022