What is Open Space?

Open Space — or more formally, Open Space Technology — is a great way for groups to think, talk and take action together.

Click here to watch the British Sign Language version of this guide.

Open Space Technology (OST) is a process that enables collaborative problem solving, improved communications and better networking. It can work for as few as 5 people, and as many as 500. Open Space Technology was created by an Episcopal priest and civil rights campaigner called Harrison Owen in the 1980s. Over the last 30+ years, OST has been used across the world in an incredible range of contexts: to design aeroplane doors, resolve land disputes, address economic, environmental, social, political and artistic issues of every kind.

It’s a process that’s been at the heart of Improbable’s work since Phelim read Harrison’s book Open Space Technology in the early 2000s. We now use Open Space in almost every area of our work and it’s a key part of our creative methodology within the rehearsal room.

How does it work?

Open Space events do not have a set agenda, but they are normally focused around a central question; for example: “How can we make our organisation more efficient and responsive?” On the day, participants self-organise to create their own agenda, allowing a dynamic and immediate response to the issues at hand. Any participant can timetable a topic (or “call a session”) on something that they want to work on and nothing is out of bounds. Once all the topics are timetabled, participants move into smaller, flexible break-out groups and get to work on the things that they feel most passionate about.

It’s up to the participants how they work - we’ve seen plenty of chatting, but also action, song and play. Participants are invited to make notes and create reports on their break-out sessions. At the end of the event, the group meets together again to share any observations or action points with each other.

Open Space Principles and (the only) Law

There are five principles that help participants to navigate Open Space:

1. Whoever comes are the right people.

2. Wherever it happens is the right place.

3. Whatever happens is the only thing that could have.

4. Whenever it starts is the right time.

5. When it is over, it is over.

There is only one law in an Open Space event: The Law of Two Feet, also called The Law of Mobility. This states that if you find yourself bored, not learning or not contributing, use your mobility to take yourself where your time is better spent.

During an Open Space meeting, you might see "bumblebees" going from group to group spreading and connecting ideas, or "butterflies" hanging out, daydreaming or gossiping. All this collective activity adds up to a system of self-organisation that is highly creative and effective at dealing with real issues in a remarkably efficient way.