10th International Narrative Therapy and Community Work Conference
The 10th International Narrative Therapy and Community Work Conference is to be held in Salvador, Brazil 13th-15th July 2011. Start making plans now! Salvador is a fascinating place (click here for a glimpse of Salvador) and in July 2011 it will host a gathering of narrative therapists and community workers from around the globe. Many Brazilian practitioners are now engaging with narrative ideas in unique ways and we are so looking forward to this event.
Stay tuned to this site for more information. We hope to see you there!
About Dulwich Centre Conferences
Over the last ten years, Dulwich Centre has held International Narrative Therapy and Community Work Conferences in:
- Adelaide (Australia)
- Atlanta (USA)
- Liverpool (UK)
- Oaxaca (Mexico)
- Hong Kong (China)
- Kristiansand (Norway)
From the outset, these conferences have been organised in ways that seek to be congruent with some the key principles of narrative practice. They've also sought to be hosted as 'community events'. Some of our aims have included:
- to provide high quality presentations on the latest thinking and application of narrative ideas and to do so in ways that enable people of differing experience to be both engaged and challenged
- to enable people of different cultures, countries, genders, ages, class backgrounds, physical abilities and sexual identities to come together, enjoy each other’s company, and have a sense that the conference program and processes include their perspectives, hopes and ideas
- to use the conference as a chance to acknowledge and come to terms with the history of the land on which it is held
- to create an opportunity for participants to build a sense of connectedness and to contribute to the building of a community of ideas
- to provide the opportunity and support necessary for individuals and groups who have never presented before at conferences (and indeed may never have told their stories in front of an audience) to present the stories of their lives and their particular knowledges and skills in keynote addresses
- to create an atmosphere that is non-hierarchical, with no pronounced difference between presenters and participants
- to provide a forum for conversations that are expanding the field (not confirming it or simply reiterating what is already known)
- to de-centre the conference collective in both the lead-up and during the conference itself so that the focus remains on everyone’s contributions to a community event.
To read about some of the thinking that informs the conferences that we run, please click here to read 'Conceptualising conferences as community gatherings', from the book A community of ideas: Behind the scenes by Cheryl White and David Denborough. This chapter describes the history of the conferences that we host and some of the thinking that informs them. We are always interested to hear from practitioners about their ideas and suggestions about ways of holding conferences that are thoughtful, vibrant, challenging, and practice-based.
