Salonhosting – Salon 2.0 Basics Workshop
How can we be good hosts of a place, so that it can be a good host for us?
What are the ingredients of good hosting?
How do we create a space where people can contribute authentically?
What are the foundations of meaningful conversation?
Salon 2.0
In recent years, the significance of conversation for generating innovation has been (re)discovered. Lester and Piore called conversation the "missing dimension" in innovation management. It is, they argued, both a necessary foundation and, at the same time, an instrument for producing innovation.[1]
Regardless of the specific intention behind such a gathering place, the art of hosting is important for creating a hierarchy-free atmosphere — the special quality found at the interface between public and private. Whether such a place wants to call itself a salon or something else (in the past, some initiatives deliberately chose a different name, such as "Dachstube" in 19th-century Berlin, to distance themselves from the upper middle class), what matters is the culture of interaction, listening and conversation that shapes such a place. The art of conversation and hosting lies in meaningfully replacing small talk as a bonding ritual.
The salon as an interface between "public and private"
The concept of the salon
The concept of the "salon" often evokes a feeling of wellbeing for body, mind and soul, supported by good food and interesting conversation. Paris, Vienna, Berlin and other capitals have a long-standing tradition of "salons." Above all, women from bourgeois or noble backgrounds acted as hostesses and were, in this capacity, called salonnières. The activity of the "salonnière" gave women — who otherwise had no way of holding official roles in the 17th and 18th centuries — the opportunity to further educate many other women in this way.
This concept became significant above all for the Arab world, where women began establishing literary salons in all major cities such as Cairo, Damascus, Jerusalem and Aleppo.
Within the "protected space" of the salon, the free flow of conversation, mutual exchange and a certain degree of equality were fostered. Gifted salonnières in Europe and the Arab world began creating a particularly fertile atmosphere for innovation in art, culture, music, literature, philosophy, politics and society, together with guests from the most diverse backgrounds. Many of the intellectual salons in Paris paved the way for the French Revolution, and artists, poets and musicians had a safe space to present their work before offering it to the wider public.
Salons have always been places of protected "trying out." The concept of "safe space" was just as important in the past as it is, now more than ever, today!
We apply elements of Art of Hosting to demonstrate participatory conversation formats and experience the benefits of collective intelligence, which unfold their full potential especially with a vibrant, diverse group of people from many different parts of society.
Some conversation formats have a stronger community-building effect than others, and we will focus particularly on these.
What matters a great deal in Art of Hosting is the choice and design of the space, and holding the space. This is where we begin in this workshop.
Together, we want to work out what the most important ingredients are for:
creating an inviting space (selection and design)
how to invite people to listen attentively to what's new
formulating the invitation so that guests and participants resonate with it
shaping the rhythm of the collective conversation and its pauses
On 8 August, the salon evening takes place from 7:00–10:30 pm, which can be co-prepared as part of the workshop, allowing participants to apply what they've learned immediately.
This workshop introduces the unique style of "Salon-Hosting," which combines the European salon tradition with Art of Hosting as the ideal operating system for getting the best out of our collective potential. As our society continues to evolve and more awareness enters into decision-making, we are all searching for tools, methods and styles that help us prepare for wiser action at every level — whether in community, society, politics or business.
Who is this workshop for:
For people who would like to create their own places and conversation spaces of authentic encounter, or already run one and want to refine the "operating system"; for people who want to learn how to create a safe space within the space, whether in society or within organisations.
[1] R.K. Lester and M.J. Piore, 2004. Innovation — The Missing Dimension
Date: 8 August 2015
Time: 2:00–5:30 pm
Bregenzer Salon
Anton Schneider Strasse 11, 1st floor, 6900 Bregenz, Austria
The Bregenzer Salon is located in the heart of Bregenz and is easily accessible by bus and train. The stations "Bregenz Hafen" and "Bregenz Hauptbahnhof" are only a few minutes' walk away. Bus lines are also nearby. Good parking is available at the P5 Rathaus car park — simply follow the parking guidance system.
Speakers:
Ursula Hillbrand, Bregenzer Salon – Salonhosting
Mag. Ursula Hillbrand began her career in the Austrian federal civil service in Vienna before moving to the European Commission in 1995, where she worked across various policy areas. She is currently a coordinator for action-related management and applies Art of Hosting both in her own work environment and as a process facilitation coach. In 2010, she founded the Bregenzer Salon, one of the pioneers in the German-speaking world in spreading AoH methods.
Peter Brattinga, Bregenzer Salon – Salonhosting
Peter Brattinga, originally from the Netherlands, gained broad experience as a food chemist in the food industry and organic farming. He now works within the complex world of shaping opinion on EU legislation. He is a co-founder of the Bregenzer Salon and responsible for coordination and seminar organisation. Good hosting for body and mind is one of his passions.
Standard price: €144.00
Special price: €95.00
Background on the Bregenzer Salon and Salonhosting:
After Ursula Hillbrand had been practising and spreading Art of Hosting at the European Commission since 2007, as well as establishing, supporting and inspiring Communities of Practice in several areas, she became interested in the invisible "glue" that allows people to feel comfortable and willing to exchange ideas — and develop new ones together — with conversation partners who are, in some cases, complete strangers.
What Art of Hosting calls "holding space" and "becoming a learning community" became Ursula's main focus. In 2010, Ursula opened her family home in Bregenz to citizens from near and far, developing a rather cosy hosting style that she now calls "Salon-Hosting." Some ingredients were already familiar from the Brussels Pro Action Café evenings, and together with her husband Peter, she refined the concept year after year. These so-called "Open Salon Evenings" are now spreading further across Austria and Europe, supported by a steadily growing group of hosts who cultivate this style of hosting.
Organiser:
Bregenzer Salon
Registration deadline:
6 August 2015
Unfortunately, the registration deadline for this event has already passed.