Read about the ALTERNATIVE KNOWLEDGE AND THE SOCIAL ECONOMY SYMPOSIUM January 29th-30th University of Victoria

Alternative Knowledge and the Social Economy

Symposium and Exhibition January 29-30, 2010

Celebrating alternative and creative ways of understanding the Social Economy, and giving voice to stories that cannot otherwise be heard through traditional academic channels.

On behalf of the Social Economy Student Network I want to thank everyone who participated in the Alternative Knowledges and the Social Economy symposium, art exhibition and film festival. It was a 2 day event which featured a film festival, art exhibition, speakers sy,posium, and workshops.

So far I received great feedback from the event. It was amazing to be in contact and meet with artists, academics and other creative people who play an integral role in the Social Economy. I think all who were present enjoyed exploring the significant role that arts and other alternative forms of knowledge have in the Social Economy.

During the event we featured the use of poetry, video, radio, photography, theatre, hip hop lyrics, and various forms of artistic mediums (paint, stencil,collage, drawing) to express political, personal and social messages. I think all who attended came away from the event recognizing how powerful and important that alternative tools of communication are for offering an altyernative voice for academics, students and those too often unheard within traditional academic spaces.

As a feminist Geographer, and an individual dedicated to work in the Social Economy, I am motivated to challenge economic and social structures , and the way that knowledge has been shaped in society. For me the unique workshops, speakers, film festival and exhibition was an effective exercise in challenging who we as individuals working in the Social Economy and academia consider knowers and what we count as valid knowledge.

Event Overview:

Film Festival (Friday January 29th 2010)

Our event and film festival was welcomed by Social Economy Hub Co-Director Rupert Downing who spoke of this importance of using alternative expressions of knowledge in global movement.

During our film festival we featured 4 films which adressed issues pertaining to the Social Economy:

'40 Years of Cool-Aid Culture' by the Victoria Cool-Aid Society

'Beyond Gramacho' by Crystal Trembley and Jutta Gutberlet

Layered Emotions 'Layered Emotions: Speak Projects' by Julie Barnes and Melanie Schamabach

'The Story of Coast Salish Knitters' by Chritine Welsch

Symposium and Workshops (January 30th 2010)

During the symposium we had 3 welcoming speakers:

Ian McPhearson the Co-director of the Social Economy Hub
Elly Carlson from CCCBE – Centre for cooperative and community based economies (formerly BCICS)
Herman Bakvis – From the centre of public administration on campus.

Speakers and Presenters:

Budd Hall

Budd Hall, the director of the Office of Community Based Research at the University of Victoria, gave an excellent presentation and showed us how inspiring spoken word and poetry can be when used in a n academic space and applied to the Social Economy. As a academic who has been working with the concepts of alternative knowledge for many years, he shared interesting insight on the use of alternative knowledge. Budd commented saying, that in the rest of the world forms of alternative knowledge like art, film, poetry, music, oral history are the common forms of knowledge production and that it is only in academia inside and outside the Social Economy that these forms of knowledge production are not the norm.

Click here to read poems written and recited by Budd Hall

Melanie Schambach

Melanie's presentation and workshop was easily the highlight of the symposium. Melanie presented about her methodology as an artist which she calls "Speak Art". Melanie first gave provided the context and evolution of her tool as an artist, then she provided stories and video to describe the power of "Speak Art".

Click here to view Melanie Schambach's Presentation

Following Melanie's presentation all those who attended the conference took part in creating a mosaic work of art, by each individual painting, drawing, collaging, or writing on a tile. It was an activity that I never thought I would see in an academic lecture theatre. The activity was enjoyed by all and brought all those who attended together to network, learn from each other and discuss what mattered to them.

Collaborative art piece created by those involved with the conference

(Poem created with the art piece)

We are a body of questions – breaking boundaries! Eating nature’s delicious recipes
Plants reaching into an open wing
Starry skies loves us
Breathing in a grove of cedars wilds us
Red heart love RECOGNIZE US!
fresh air clean water pure not industrial polenta carrot poached eggs local food
access the margins
(the poet seeks mystery)
life is never as straight
as the road (change.)