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Keeping a Sense of Place in a Disrupted World | Sally Mackey | TEDxRoyalCentralSchool


so how is your place the chair you’re

so how is your place the chair you’re sitting in is your place albeit

sitting in is your place albeit

sitting in is your place albeit temporarily you inhabit it you’ve

temporarily you inhabit it you’ve

temporarily you inhabit it you’ve performed it you’ve come into the

performed it you’ve come into the

performed it you’ve come into the theatre you’ve selected the seat you’ve

theatre you’ve selected the seat you’ve

theatre you’ve selected the seat you’ve perhaps put a bag or papers down in a

perhaps put a bag or papers down in a

perhaps put a bag or papers down in a certain position you can shuffle in it

certain position you can shuffle in it

certain position you can shuffle in it whenever you want to it’s temporarily

whenever you want to it’s temporarily

whenever you want to it’s temporarily yours you’re comfortable and the actions

yours you’re comfortable and the actions

yours you’re comfortable and the actions you undertake and have making it yours

you undertake and have making it yours

you undertake and have making it yours three weeks ago I was up at the

three weeks ago I was up at the

three weeks ago I was up at the Edinburgh Festival sitting in the

Edinburgh Festival sitting in the

Edinburgh Festival sitting in the pleasant courtyard having drinks with

pleasant courtyard having drinks with

pleasant courtyard having drinks with friends very comfortable

friends very comfortable

friends very comfortable it was very familiar one of my places

it was very familiar one of my places

it was very familiar one of my places that same weekend was the start of the

that same weekend was the start of the

that same weekend was the start of the UK football season and hundreds of

UK football season and hundreds of

UK football season and hundreds of thousands of fans returned to their

thousands of fans returned to their

thousands of fans returned to their stadium their place probably more their

stadium their place probably more their

stadium their place probably more their place if their team won obviously also

place if their team won obviously also

place if their team won obviously also that weekend a friend of mine went to

that weekend a friend of mine went to

that weekend a friend of mine went to her allotment she took her two young

her allotment she took her two young

her allotment she took her two young daughters

daughters

daughters it’s the place of history and

it’s the place of history and

it’s the place of history and contentment for her it’s her place but

contentment for her it’s her place but

contentment for her it’s her place but for everybody who is comfortable in

for everybody who is comfortable in

for everybody who is comfortable in their place there is someone whose place

their place there is someone whose place

their place there is someone whose place is disrupted maybe even torn apart this

is disrupted maybe even torn apart this

is disrupted maybe even torn apart this photo is a replaced project in Oldham

photo is a replaced project in Oldham

photo is a replaced project in Oldham near Manchester in the UK most of the

near Manchester in the UK most of the

near Manchester in the UK most of the people in the photo are migrants Oldham

people in the photo are migrants Oldham

people in the photo are migrants Oldham was once the largest mill town in the

was once the largest mill town in the

was once the largest mill town in the world it had a long history of welcoming

world it had a long history of welcoming

world it had a long history of welcoming migrants this is another place project

migrants this is another place project

migrants this is another place project in London with adults who are in care

in London with adults who are in care

in London with adults who are in care 24/7 supported living relatively new to

24/7 supported living relatively new to

24/7 supported living relatively new to the location

the location

the location I’ll return to these later concepts of

I’ll return to these later concepts of

I’ll return to these later concepts of place and belonging are difficult for

place and belonging are difficult for

place and belonging are difficult for the people in these projects feeling a

the people in these projects feeling a

the people in these projects feeling a sense of place feeling a sense of

sense of place feeling a sense of

sense of place feeling a sense of belonging doesn’t happen as easily for

belonging doesn’t happen as easily for

belonging doesn’t happen as easily for them

them

them it does for most of us I suspect and

it does for most of us I suspect and

it does for most of us I suspect and because of major changes globally there

because of major changes globally there

because of major changes globally there are going to be less people who feel

are going to be less people who feel

are going to be less people who feel comfort in place but we can do something

comfort in place but we can do something

comfort in place but we can do something about that

about that

about that we can help people feel comfortable in

we can help people feel comfortable in

we can help people feel comfortable in place and that’s what this talk is about

place and that’s what this talk is about

place and that’s what this talk is about what is place how can we build place

what is place how can we build place

what is place how can we build place such an attachment and how can

such an attachment and how can

such an attachment and how can performing places help us make place

performing places help us make place

performing places help us make place when I’m talking about place I’m talking

when I’m talking about place I’m talking

when I’m talking about place I’m talking about a physical place somewhere that’s

about a physical place somewhere that’s

about a physical place somewhere that’s inhabited

inhabited

inhabited I mean residence location dwelling we’re

I mean residence location dwelling we’re

I mean residence location dwelling we’re connected to place its knowledge we know

connected to place its knowledge we know

connected to place its knowledge we know it it’s familiar we feel it mostly when

it it’s familiar we feel it mostly when

it it’s familiar we feel it mostly when we talk about place it’s positive not

we talk about place it’s positive not

we talk about place it’s positive not always but usually we have the impulse

always but usually we have the impulse

always but usually we have the impulse to speak with warmth or with a slight

to speak with warmth or with a slight

to speak with warmth or with a slight smile about place and terms such as

smile about place and terms such as

smile about place and terms such as place attachment and place making

place attachment and place making

place attachment and place making proliferate UK local authorities are

proliferate UK local authorities are

proliferate UK local authorities are bedding place into new local strategies

bedding place into new local strategies

bedding place into new local strategies and they’re calling on creative

and they’re calling on creative

and they’re calling on creative activities to help place belonging it’s

activities to help place belonging it’s

activities to help place belonging it’s become important but there are problems

become important but there are problems

become important but there are problems with place as well it’s not always so

with place as well it’s not always so

with place as well it’s not always so positive when we become embedded we can

positive when we become embedded we can

positive when we become embedded we can be territorial excluding defensive and

be territorial excluding defensive and

be territorial excluding defensive and then we delimit our horizons literally

then we delimit our horizons literally

then we delimit our horizons literally and any stillness that we once sought in

and any stillness that we once sought in

and any stillness that we once sought in place seeking that stability and

place seeking that stability and

place seeking that stability and solidity that so many of us have yearned

solidity that so many of us have yearned

solidity that so many of us have yearned for that stillness can turn to a sealed

for that stillness can turn to a sealed

for that stillness can turn to a sealed inertia and then we protect sometimes

inertia and then we protect sometimes

inertia and then we protect sometimes fiercely so in defending our place we

fiercely so in defending our place we

fiercely so in defending our place we exclude others or even displace others

exclude others or even displace others

exclude others or even displace others and we know from recent events about

and we know from recent events about

and we know from recent events about such

such

such faith in localism and protectionism

faith in localism and protectionism

faith in localism and protectionism nationalist populist rhetoric that

nationalist populist rhetoric that

nationalist populist rhetoric that enforces borders and erect walls as we

enforces borders and erect walls as we

enforces borders and erect walls as we know so let me talk a little bit further

know so let me talk a little bit further

know so let me talk a little bit further about what’s happening now and how place

about what’s happening now and how place

about what’s happening now and how place could be affected in the future

could be affected in the future

could be affected in the future we are moving more we’re moving around

we are moving more we’re moving around

we are moving more we’re moving around the globe there’s more people moving and

the globe there’s more people moving and

the globe there’s more people moving and that’s increasing there are we are told

that’s increasing there are we are told

that’s increasing there are we are told 1 million people in the air at any one

1 million people in the air at any one

1 million people in the air at any one time always 1 million new Silk Roads are

time always 1 million new Silk Roads are

time always 1 million new Silk Roads are being built from Shanghai to London and

being built from Shanghai to London and

being built from Shanghai to London and Lisbon whether we are moving around the

Lisbon whether we are moving around the

Lisbon whether we are moving around the world out of choice because we have the

world out of choice because we have the

world out of choice because we have the wealth the power the status or whether

wealth the power the status or whether

wealth the power the status or whether it’s we’ve been forced out of our homes

it’s we’ve been forced out of our homes

it’s we’ve been forced out of our homes and our nation’s we are moving more

and our nation’s we are moving more

and our nation’s we are moving more we’re increasing rail and road networks

we’re increasing rail and road networks

we’re increasing rail and road networks and we’re expanding airports since 1960

and we’re expanding airports since 1960

and we’re expanding airports since 1960 there has been a 200% increase in

there has been a 200% increase in

there has been a 200% increase in migration to such an extent apparently

migration to such an extent apparently

migration to such an extent apparently that if we put all migrants together in

that if we put all migrants together in

that if we put all migrants together in one country not that we do that it would

one country not that we do that it would

one country not that we do that it would be the fifth largest country in the

be the fifth largest country in the

be the fifth largest country in the world some of those migrants or refugees

world some of those migrants or refugees

world some of those migrants or refugees well actually over 20 million globally

well actually over 20 million globally

well actually over 20 million globally are refugees even from the most recent

are refugees even from the most recent

are refugees even from the most recent crisis Uganda is hosting a million

crisis Uganda is hosting a million

crisis Uganda is hosting a million Syrian refugees which is more than the

Syrian refugees which is more than the

Syrian refugees which is more than the whole of Europe put together and Jordan

whole of Europe put together and Jordan

whole of Europe put together and Jordan 1.2 million and it’s not just political

1.2 million and it’s not just political

1.2 million and it’s not just political refugees who will be on the move it’s

refugees who will be on the move it’s

refugees who will be on the move it’s climate refugees which potentially

climate refugees which potentially

climate refugees which potentially climate refugees the countries in the

climate refugees the countries in the

climate refugees the countries in the planetary south are struggling with the

planetary south are struggling with the

planetary south are struggling with the climate injustice from the planet Earth

climate injustice from the planet Earth

climate injustice from the planet Earth from the countries in the planetary

from the countries in the planetary

from the countries in the planetary north the excess of energy use from the

north the excess of energy use from the

north the excess of energy use from the north is damaging countries in the South

north is damaging countries in the South

north is damaging countries in the South land

land

land our diminishing places are disappearing

our diminishing places are disappearing

our diminishing places are disappearing and whilst the annual growth rate of

and whilst the annual growth rate of

and whilst the annual growth rate of renewables that’s renewable energy

renewables that’s renewable energy

renewables that’s renewable energy sources is increasing thank goodness

sources is increasing thank goodness

sources is increasing thank goodness fossil fuels still it’s still 80 percent

fossil fuels still it’s still 80 percent

fossil fuels still it’s still 80 percent power is power 86 percent power is

power is power 86 percent power is

power is power 86 percent power is powered by fossil fuels and that’s

powered by fossil fuels and that’s

powered by fossil fuels and that’s worrying so lands will diminish places

worrying so lands will diminish places

worrying so lands will diminish places will disappear populations will move

will disappear populations will move

will disappear populations will move let’s take another interpretation of

let’s take another interpretation of

let’s take another interpretation of movement of course we have increased

movement of course we have increased

movement of course we have increased digital connectivity most of us here

digital connectivity most of us here

digital connectivity most of us here could probably contact some on the other

could probably contact some on the other

could probably contact some on the other side of the world instantly now through

side of the world instantly now through

side of the world instantly now through cyberspace and cyberspace offers

cyberspace and cyberspace offers

cyberspace and cyberspace offers alternative places in the ether it’s not

alternative places in the ether it’s not

alternative places in the ether it’s not something that I dump it’s something

something that I dump it’s something

something that I dump it’s something that some of you may have done which is

that some of you may have done which is

that some of you may have done which is to take on an imagined avatar and to

to take on an imagined avatar and to

to take on an imagined avatar and to inhabit an alternative place a fictional

inhabit an alternative place a fictional

inhabit an alternative place a fictional place a cyber place cyber place will

place a cyber place cyber place will

place a cyber place cyber place will certainly impact upon the way that we

certainly impact upon the way that we

certainly impact upon the way that we think about physical places but we don’t

think about physical places but we don’t

think about physical places but we don’t actually know what will happen with

actually know what will happen with

actually know what will happen with physical places hmm so I’m going to move

physical places hmm so I’m going to move

physical places hmm so I’m going to move off global projections and I’m going to

off global projections and I’m going to

off global projections and I’m going to move to the to the individual and the

move to the to the individual and the

move to the to the individual and the personal those that would feel the lack

personal those that would feel the lack

personal those that would feel the lack of place most many of us don’t want to

of place most many of us don’t want to

of place most many of us don’t want to jog through places with only fleeting

jog through places with only fleeting

jog through places with only fleeting connections some do and that’s fine

connections some do and that’s fine

connections some do and that’s fine that’s great but many of us don’t want

that’s great but many of us don’t want

that’s great but many of us don’t want that we want the qualities of long-term

that we want the qualities of long-term

that we want the qualities of long-term place the ease and the belonging even if

place the ease and the belonging even if

place the ease and the belonging even if we’re only there for a short period of

we’re only there for a short period of

we’re only there for a short period of time so what can be what can be done how

time so what can be what can be done how

time so what can be what can be done how can we make permanent impermanent

can we make permanent impermanent

can we make permanent impermanent temporary places satisfying and quickly

temporary places satisfying and quickly

temporary places satisfying and quickly belonging needs to be speeded up

belonging needs to be speeded up

belonging needs to be speeded up particularly for those who had risk or

particularly for those who had risk or

particularly for those who had risk or ill –’tis who need belonging more well

ill –’tis who need belonging more well

ill –’tis who need belonging more well it’s possible we can do that we can

it’s possible we can do that we can

it’s possible we can do that we can fracture place we can accelerate place

fracture place we can accelerate place

fracture place we can accelerate place attachment by using performance

attachment by using performance

attachment by using performance practices we can speed up location

practices we can speed up location

practices we can speed up location dwelling residents placemaking i’ve been

dwelling residents placemaking i’ve been

dwelling residents placemaking i’ve been undertaking some practical research with

undertaking some practical research with

undertaking some practical research with colleagues and with some highly

colleagues and with some highly

colleagues and with some highly experienced facilitators using

experienced facilitators using

experienced facilitators using performance practices in community

performance practices in community

performance practices in community contact contexts to do just that what we

contact contexts to do just that what we

contact contexts to do just that what we have found is if we work with groups

have found is if we work with groups

have found is if we work with groups subverting subverting places through

subverting subverting places through

subverting subverting places through performance their feelings and response

performance their feelings and response

performance their feelings and response to that place can change through

to that place can change through

to that place can change through subversions or if you like performing

subversions or if you like performing

subversions or if you like performing the unexpected they feel place more they

the unexpected they feel place more they

the unexpected they feel place more they feel at home and attached more quickly

feel at home and attached more quickly

feel at home and attached more quickly because they’ve made or they’ve joined

because they’ve made or they’ve joined

because they’ve made or they’ve joined in making changes to those places

in making changes to those places

in making changes to those places they’ve inputted they’ve shifted generic

they’ve inputted they’ve shifted generic

they’ve inputted they’ve shifted generic sites into meaningful places they

sites into meaningful places they

sites into meaningful places they performed the place they see the place

performed the place they see the place

performed the place they see the place through new eyes let me give you some

through new eyes let me give you some

through new eyes let me give you some examples let me talk through some

examples let me talk through some

examples let me talk through some examples and show you them in a northern

examples and show you them in a northern

examples and show you them in a northern town new and existing residents who are

town new and existing residents who are

town new and existing residents who are there are tensions between cultural

there are tensions between cultural

there are tensions between cultural groups they’re prompted to review their

groups they’re prompted to review their

groups they’re prompted to review their local streets foreign beings have landed

local streets foreign beings have landed

local streets foreign beings have landed of course they have they’ve landed and

of course they have they’ve landed and

of course they have they’ve landed and they’re there for a week and those

they’re there for a week and those

they’re there for a week and those beings are there to have a good look

beings are there to have a good look

beings are there to have a good look round but also they’re seeking positive

round but also they’re seeking positive

round but also they’re seeking positive energy from that area from the people

energy from that area from the people

energy from that area from the people from the walls from the balloons from

from the walls from the balloons from

from the walls from the balloons from the cracks in the pavement and that fuel

the cracks in the pavement and that fuel

the cracks in the pavement and that fuel that positive energy which I’m sure you

that positive energy which I’m sure you

that positive energy which I’m sure you will recognize is going to fuel their

will recognize is going to fuel their

will recognize is going to fuel their spacecraft which will then take them

spacecraft which will then take them

spacecraft which will then take them back to their planet so residents

back to their planet so residents

back to their planet so residents look at their place differently they’re

look at their place differently they’re

look at their place differently they’re looking at it through the eyes of new

looking at it through the eyes of new

looking at it through the eyes of new strangers London youth lose their fear

strangers London youth lose their fear

strangers London youth lose their fear of threatening places or simply review

of threatening places or simply review

of threatening places or simply review dull everyday places differently by

dull everyday places differently by

dull everyday places differently by playing out an art room or changing a

playing out an art room or changing a

playing out an art room or changing a playground with a personal ribbon

playground with a personal ribbon

playground with a personal ribbon responses to site change we have as I

responses to site change we have as I

responses to site change we have as I said earlier we have been working with

said earlier we have been working with

said earlier we have been working with adults in care to change to improve

adults in care to change to improve

adults in care to change to improve their response to their localities so

their response to their localities so

their response to their localities so they’ve sprinkled sprinkles on their way

they’ve sprinkled sprinkles on their way

they’ve sprinkled sprinkles on their way to sprinkles ice cream parlor so that

to sprinkles ice cream parlor so that

to sprinkles ice cream parlor so that local roots feel as though they belong a

local roots feel as though they belong a

local roots feel as though they belong a triangle of pavement is turned into an

triangle of pavement is turned into an

triangle of pavement is turned into an hour-long party site for themselves and

hour-long party site for themselves and

hour-long party site for themselves and for passers-by I can’t pass that

for passers-by I can’t pass that

for passers-by I can’t pass that triangle anymore without remembering

triangle anymore without remembering

triangle anymore without remembering that transformation residents in a Welsh

that transformation residents in a Welsh

that transformation residents in a Welsh town regret a loss of community they

town regret a loss of community they

town regret a loss of community they identify an old close down greatly

identify an old close down greatly

identify an old close down greatly missed a lead Oh an open-air swimming

missed a lead Oh an open-air swimming

missed a lead Oh an open-air swimming pool as a symbol as an icon of that lost

pool as a symbol as an icon of that lost

pool as a symbol as an icon of that lost communality so I persuade some

communality so I persuade some

communality so I persuade some performers to Don some swimming costumes

performers to Don some swimming costumes

performers to Don some swimming costumes that they might otherwise not have

that they might otherwise not have

that they might otherwise not have donned and we reaper form that old site

donned and we reaper form that old site

donned and we reaper form that old site new memories are created are added to

new memories are created are added to

new memories are created are added to that community layering of place

that community layering of place

that community layering of place refugees and asylum seekers as I said

refugees and asylum seekers as I said

refugees and asylum seekers as I said earlier up in Oldham create a different

earlier up in Oldham create a different

earlier up in Oldham create a different response to thoroughfares that they know

response to thoroughfares that they know

response to thoroughfares that they know such that they can smile at those three

such that they can smile at those three

such that they can smile at those three ways they won’t forget a curious

ways they won’t forget a curious

ways they won’t forget a curious subverted Tea Party

subverted Tea Party

subverted Tea Party they make small models in the nearby

they make small models in the nearby

they make small models in the nearby beauty spot that they’ve not been to and

beauty spot that they’ve not been to and

beauty spot that they’ve not been to and then they leave something of themselves

then they leave something of themselves

then they leave something of themselves in that place so what I’m saying is that

in that place so what I’m saying is that

in that place so what I’m saying is that we can accelerate place attachment

we can accelerate place attachment

we can accelerate place attachment through such a detailed and creative

through such a detailed and creative

through such a detailed and creative approaches to local places with the

approaches to local places with the

approaches to local places with the people who dwell there places are going

people who dwell there places are going

people who dwell there places are going to be disrupted we know that we know

to be disrupted we know that we know

to be disrupted we know that we know that will move or other people will move

that will move or other people will move

that will move or other people will move in or it will structurally change but we

in or it will structurally change but we

in or it will structurally change but we can enhance attachment by undertaking

can enhance attachment by undertaking

can enhance attachment by undertaking slightly alternative bit off the wall

slightly alternative bit off the wall

slightly alternative bit off the wall marginally radical participatory

marginally radical participatory

marginally radical participatory performance practices performing place

performance practices performing place

performance practices performing place increases place attachment place

increases place attachment place

increases place attachment place attachment increases well being we can

attachment increases well being we can

attachment increases well being we can indeed keep a sense of place in a

indeed keep a sense of place in a

indeed keep a sense of place in a disrupted world thank you

disrupted world thank you

disrupted world thank you [Applause]

”

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