This civilisation is dying, but there will be people and seeds of a new civilisation that survive it. Our imaginations are often stuck on a binary track between utopia and dystopia. What if we imagined the way through, treading the line of the pragmatic sublime?

Climate Majority Project research on Silent Majorities shows us how we are much less alone than we fear with our beliefs, that most Britons believe societal collapse in their lifetimes is likely and are disaffected with business as usual. But where is a viable transition scenario we can get behind? 

As part of this week artists Ruth Ben-Tovim, Lucy Neal from the Town Anywhere team will facilitate the day-long  immersive Town Anywhere community visioning process with a Throughtopia lens,  enabling us to time travel together to 2035 to  'rehearse the future’ . We will  then come back to 2025 to learn  from the experience as we spend time exploring potential approaches to involving broad and wide groups of people in imagination led alternative future scenarios. For videos and information about Town Anywhere see here.

This Residency is slightly subsidised by the CMP’s Open Society Foundation grant. In true CMP & the Raft fashion, we will be asking difficult and sometimes even uncomfortable questions: the belief that transition could (or must) eradicate global injustice and inequality is quite high among progressives, but sounds to many others like an attempt at socialist utopia that would inevitably fail in its lofty goals, while bringing with it oppressive state interventions. 

The possibilities of social justice utopia on one hand and of dystopian collapse on the other seem predominant in the current public imaginary. Less idealised and more varied scenarios wherein full-scale collapse is averted – and in which injustice, markets, and inequality are less salient but still exist, or indeed in which collapse-events or ‘flickerings’ of the system occur but in and through which there remains much to play for – are not discussed as widely… partly because they may be even more psychologically challenging; partly because they are simply ‘messier’. Our enquiry will be based on convening discussions about alternative futures involving politically diverse audiences.

Practicalities

There will be time to work (5-6 hours a day being a comfortable amount), except for on Friday, September 5 and Saturday, September 6.. Most food will be vegan but you are welcome to supplement as you wish – there is a big tesco within walking distance. At Bidston Observatory most rooms are shared, though beds have their own curtain dividers. Unless you are affected by insomnia or a terrible snorer, you should assume you will be sharing a room with other residency participants.

When: September 3-10. Please plan to attend the entirety of this gathering, unless you are a local coming for the Town Anywhere workshop day only.

Where: Bidston Observatory, the Wirral

Costs: Full rate (covering organisers’ time) £650+ | Covering food, board and facilitation £550 | Subsidised rate £450

Tentative schedule (can change also based on participants’ needs):

  • 7-8 am: optional meditation 

  • 8-9 am: optional breakfast

  • 9:30-10:15 am: collective care for cooking, cleaning, gardening

  • 10:15-11:30am open space (sometimes this might be shifted to the afternoon on certain days)

  • 11:30 am-1 pm: own time

  • 1-2 pm: buffet lunch (there will often be a semi-structured conversation over lunch) and dishes

  • 2-6 pm: own time

  • 6-7 pm: table dinner (there will often be a structured conversation over dinner; please arrive promptly) and dishes

  • 7:30pm-9pm: evening activity; please plan on definitely coming to this.


We want to create a space that is safe, supportive, and nourishing for everyone. By joining this gathering you agree to:

1. Respect for the Group & Space

  •  Engage with kindness, openness, and confidentiality—what is shared in the group stays in the group.

  • Respect different perspectives, backgrounds, and spiritual traditions.

  • Participate to the best of your ability, while honouring your own boundaries.

2. Wellbeing & Responsibility

  • This residency is not a therapy space. While deep emotions may arise, you are responsible for your own wellbeing.

  • If you are struggling, please reach out to a facilitator, but know that we are not trained mental health professionals.

  • You are responsible for your own physical and emotional safety during the retreat, including any time spent in nature or engaging in activities.

  • We will not take any responsibility for drug or alcohol use.

3. Logistics & Practicalities

  •  Accommodation and meals are included, and we will do our best to meet dietary needs (all meals are vegetarian) - you must let us know of any allergies in advance.

  • You are responsible for arranging your own travel to and from the retreat.

  • Deposits are non-refundable, and cancellations within 14 days of the retreat will not be eligible for a refund (unless in exceptional circumstances).