(akin to BarCamp, or Unconference)

“Open Space method is one way to enable all kinds of people, in any kind of situation, to create participatory workshops and events. In Open Space workshops, participants create and manage their own agenda of parallel working sessions around a central theme of strategic importance, such as: What is the integrated approach to environmental, cultural and social instabilities that all involved can support and work together to create?

Open Space works best when the work to be done is complex, the people and ideas involved are diverse, the passion for resolution (and potential for conflict) are high, and the time to get it done was yesterday. Open Space runs on two fundamentals: passion and responsibility. Passion engages the people in the room. Responsibility ensures things get done. A focusing theme or question provides the framework for the event. The art of the question lies in saying just enough to evoke attention, while leaving sufficient open space for the imagination to run wild.”

Open Space events are based on one law and four principles. The law of two feet means that if you find yourself in a situation where you are neither learning or contributing, move somewhere where you can. The four principles are:

1. Whoever comes is the right people,
2. Whatever happens is the only thing that could have,
3. When it starts is the right time,
4. When it's over it's over.

Adapted from http://www.openspaceworld.org/