Castlemaine Festival for Democracy
Description
What if democracy wasn't just about elections? What if our communities led the way our democracy works?
Join Really Local and the Castlemaine Institute for a day of conversation, ideas and connection exploring what a genuinely citizen-led democracy could look like.
Including:
Exploring new models for citizen-led democracy (with advocate, organiser and former MP Zoe Daniel, recently launced Voices for Bendigo group, Kate Lawrence on Democracy After Disaster and exploring the Greater Melbourne and Mount Alexander Peoples Assemblies!)
An afternoon of workshops practicing the skills democracy needs (including Australian first session on "Democracy Fitness" by We Do Democracy from Denmark!), and
An evening Dinner for Democracy with Iain Walker from New Democracy Foundation, the official launch of the Mount Alexander People's Assembly, and MC Will Tait.
And more!
In a moment when cynicism about politics runs deep, this is a chance to step back from the despair and practice imagining what a stronger, more participatory democracy could feel like, and what it would take to build it.
Drawing people from Castlemaine and across the wider Victorian and Australian communities, all are welcome.
With support from ned.org.au and Castlemaine Institute.
Agenda
- 10:00 am - 10:00 pm
Festival overview
Morning — "The What" (10:00am–1:00pm) - Shedshaker Taproom, Castlemaine We open with a public forum asking: what if our democracy was genuinely citizen-led? Keynote speakers include advocate, advisor and former MP Zoe Daniel; Kate Lawrence, the presenter of the "Democracy After Disaster" podcast series, Kate Lawrence; representatives of the recently formed Voices for Bendigo group; and Really Local's own people's assembly team, before an interactive session invites everyone in the room to explore what citizen-led democracy could actually mean for us, here in Victoria. Lunch - 1:00-2:00pm - Lunch supplied by Shedshaker Taproom for morning and afternoon attendees! Afternoon — "The How" (2:00pm–5:00pm) - Shedshaker Taproom, Castlemaine Democracy takes skill, not just goodwill. We will have an interactive sessions designed to build the muscles democracy actually needs: listening, negotiating, finding common ground. We will put participants in decision making roles to practice what it takes to make hard decision together and share what we learn. Dinner for Democracy - "The Launch" (6:30pm–9:30pm) - Boomtown Winery, Castlemaine The day closes with a two course dinner and the official launch of the Mount Alexander People's Assembly with Iain Walker from New Democracy Foundation sharing global insights on citizen’s assemblies, and an open invitation to get involved in shaping how our new local version runs.. Musical MC Will Tait will host the night, sharing stories from the day, and corralling the room to ‘write a letter’, which he will put to music for the night’s celebratory finale. Come to any one event, or register for all. We are open to adding more events - if you would like to host one, get in touch! connect@reallylocal.au
Tickets for good, not greed Humanitix dedicates 100% of profits from booking fees to charity
Get tickets
Get tickets
