Barrow’s Constellation
A constellation is a point of orientation, something to head towards once you have left the relative safety of the shore, unsure of where you may land. New Constellations starts from the idea that in this era of transformation and flux, we are allowing ourselves to be guided by constellations that are pulling us into perilous waters, and that in order to reset our course towards a future in which humanity and the planet can flourish together, we need to discover new stars, and with them, new possibilities.
New Constellations are seeking out and mapping new constellations through a number of approaches - audio encounters, written musings, evocative imagery and immersive experiences. In the first of these immersive experiences, the New Constellations team invited the people of Barrow-in-Furness to tell the story of their place and map the constellations of their town. They encouraged involvement from the wider community through a billboard, poster and radio campaign inviting people to answer the question: “What’s your boldest dream for Barrow?”
Over a week in December 2020, they ‘set sail’ with a ‘crew’ of 15, taking them on a journey to discover the borough’s new constellation - a set of principles to orient the community in pursuit of a brighter future. The online journey (during full lockdown) was an immersive experience themed around a nautical voyage, using audio recordings, reflective exercises, creative workshops and guided walks, all of which sought to hold space for the crew to imagine what a different future would look like for their town. The stars the crew discovered have been formally adopted by the council, and are already being used to guide decision-making across the borough, alongside the money and guidance they have received as part of the government’s new Towns Fund.
New Constellations’ approach to the future is emancipatory and hopeful. It approaches what might come to pass from a place not of fear but of expansive possibility and abundance - and in doing so allows space for the emergence of new visions for the future. Grounded in the firm belief of the power first and foremost of our shared humanity, and our collective desires for better, more beautiful futures, it is doing the work of understanding and navigating the future that is already emerging - helping to illuminate the new constellations we need to guide us through these unfamiliar waters.
To learn more about New Constellations’ work, navigate and explore their website here.