Rhizome is a twelve month fellowship program for narrative change practitioners focused on the transition to a post Anthropocentric world. 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.
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.
Participants
The 20 participants selected are a diverse group of 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.
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.