About OpenFora
(C) Citizens of Europe, video by Barbara Lubich (2009). Realized with kind support of “Europe for Citizens” programme of the European Commission.
The idea
We deeply feel the lack of opportunities and low-threshold institutional settings for professionals and academics to come together as equal citizens and melt their intellectual creativity. We invite them to exchange views and experiences on topics that go beyond mere European-integrationist matters and are of specific relevance for societies in Europe.
We take Europe as the starting point of self-confident departure. We perceive ourselves as citizens who are responsible for and in charge of developments in Europe and welcome others to do so as well. And this does not refer to the European Union alone (see the profile of Citizens of Europe on this point).
Methodology
OpenFora are conceptual platforms in the form of weekend debates in various locations in Europe. They setup spaces where European diversity and citizenship can be experienced in practice. Their objective is to bring together sophisticated people from all over Europe – regardless of their age, social or professional background – in order to exchange views and experience on topics related to current social and political life in Europe.
The event combines different forms of informal learning. We allocate a mixture of 3 workshop rounds (core activity of OpenFora) and mix it with introductory sessions, public expert panel discussions and activist contentions as well as cultural activities. Follow-up teams take care of disseminating results into related contexts.
Participants
Everyone willing to actively engage in an intensive and sophisticated debate characterized by low hierarchies is welcome to an OpenForum. All opinions are valuable and will be considered as expressions of personal perspectives. Participants are invited to present whatever experience- and knowledge-based view they have on the respective subject matter; yet they need to be prepared to see their positions questioned and should enjoy taking part in a creative process of recalibrating thought by joint reflection. Experienced moderators assist participants during the debate.
A concept group under the lead of Frank Burgdörfer and Gert Röhrborn developed the methodology in spring 2007 and has evolved it ever since. Individual workshops are shaped by varying teams.