How Open Space works

We chose Open Space because it works in a truly democratic way. There is no agenda, no keynote speech, and each member of the group is equally important. Topics for discussion come from the floor and people can choose which group they want to join or leave. At the end of the day people come together to vote on the points they want to turn into actions.

The Open Space process began with Harrison Owen, an American consultant who has specialised in mediation work with large and diverse groups. His work in Africa taught him that people communicate most freely when they sit in a circle where everyone has an equal chance to talk and listen. His work with big corporations taught him that the most productive part of any seminar or conference tends to be during the lunchbreak. Open Space events are now held across the world. Since 1997 the Edinburgh based company Open Futures has developed Open Space events in Scotland.

Leith Open Space Group is grateful to Kerry Napuk, co-founder of Open Futures who guided us through the first stages of the Open Space process. We are also indebted to his colleague, Maggie Havergal, who freely gives her skill and time to facilitate Leith Open Space events.