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Salzburg Global Forum for Young Cultural Innovators 2020
SHIFTING FROM OWNER TO COLLABORATOR: THE POWER OF CO-CREATION How do we create a truly global program and active network that is owned by and representative of its members? That question has increasingly been on the minds of program staff working on the YCI Forum over recent years. The answer: we have to look to the network for ideas and to make space for YCIs to create the answers.
In recent years, the YCI Forum team has been focused on shifting the power paradigm by utilizing a co-creation approach to program design and facilitation. Giving up ownership and democratizing the Forum is a key part of this process and opens up exciting opportunities for innovation through collaboration while also helping to contribute to a more inclusive experience for participants. As so much of the benefit of the YCI Forum is derived from the connections created between participants, it is fundamental that the facilitation team create an atmosphere that is conducive openness, inclusion and trust. Having a facilitation team who are relatable and approachable to participants helps to do this. In 2019, the YCI Forum first pioneered the co-creation approach to program facilitation with 10 members of the global YCI Forum network being invited to return to Salzburg to participate in the program as workshop facilitators and speakers. This was the first foray into involving YCIs in a substantive way in the delivery of a YCI Forum program. Building on this approach, the two virtual regional meetings of the YCI Forum that took place in the spring were co-created by YCI Forum staff and members of the local YCI Hubs. The 2020 YCI Forum program was supported by 30 facilitators from 15 YCI Hubs around the world. Many of these YCIs had participated in the program in different years, as far back as the 2013 Young Cultural Leaders program which seeded the YCI Forum. The facilitation team worked with Salzburg Global staff on various aspects of the program including planning and facilitating the main sessions; planning and holding space for the small groups in the sharing sessions; facilitating pocket sessions (skills and capacity building workshops); and managing technical platforms and social media for the program. All facilitators were appointed through an open call process and were paid for their contributions to the program. Salzburg Global further supported the professional development of YCI facilitators by offering capacity-building training on how to facilitate in a virtual environment and how to use online engagement platforms such as Zoom, Mentimeter, Mural and others. Sharing sessions facilitators received mentoring and
