21 Ecologies of Performance;

Often, there are no relations between local communities and people who move through the city short-term like tourists or workers in gig-economies like the theatre.

We are seeking a mindful way of going to places and working with communities more sustainably. We need to understand better the effects of our movements and their consequences.

We investigated the complex ecologies behind performance making and, in particular, the ecology of Firenze as a tourism destination. The main goal was to understand how a performance—even a city visit—interacts with inhabitants at the destination. But also with the communities residing in a city and the livelihoods of people in general. Tourists are communities on the move and interact with local networks. Similarly, we worked towards a performance with local communities that are involved and affected directly and indirectly.

The students were challenged to build links, to enter local networks, or welcome the visitors and local residential communities.

Students worked collaboratively and independently towards the planning, facilitation, and delivery of a participatory project, and simultaneously considering the responsibilities involved. The project laid out how the economies of different communities affect, coexist, threaten, or challenge each other and reflected on the ethics of participatory practices.