Intro
The future is not predictable! Unfortunately… or rather, fortunately. Because otherwise, the world would be very boring. Who enjoys going to the cinema after a spoiler alert?
What is Futures Literacy?
Futures Literacy is the capacity to imagine and understand multiple possible futures in order to make better decisions today. Recognized by UNESCO as a key skill for the 21st century, it empowers individuals and communities to challenge assumptions, reveal blind spots, and explore alternative paths. Rather than attempting to predict the future, Futures Literacy focuses on anticipation as a tool for reflection, creativity, and transformation.
It encourages a shift from reactive thinking to proactive imagination, making it especially relevant for artists and cultural practitioners who are already engaged in envisioning new realities.
Imag(in)ing Living was a five-week online workshop series (Jan 9–Feb 8, 2025), exploring the imagination and shape of the future of “living” through visual literacy tools, storytelling, and critical reflection.
The workshop brought together 25 artists from 9 countries (Italy, Greece, Germany, Austria, Belgium, France, Colombia, Serbia, and Romania).
It was organized by three partner organisations within the DIALOG CITY consortium, namely two Vocational Training Centres from Italy (CFPCEMON and CIAC) and a Civil Society Organisation from Greece (CulturePolis).
Academic coordination was led by Dr. Vicky Karaiskou, Associate Professor at the Open University of Cyprus & UNESCO Chair Holder in “Visual Anticipation and Futures Literacy towards Visual Literacy”.
As a result, our toolkit is now downloadable and free to use.
© 2024 by Dr. Vicky Karaiskou licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0