This proposed inspiration session at the WFSF Paris Conference aims to draw on the support of the many experts present. The presentation will set the stage of a starting project between Open Time Applied Futures Studies Center (OT AFR) at the Erasmus Brussels University of Applied Sciences and The Art Outreach Society (TAOS) in Kerala, India: (1) Background and basic premises of the project, (2) Parameters and players/stakeholders, (3) Proposed futures methodology.
Observations of trauma (domestic violence and abuse, abandonment, alcohol dependency, etc.) indicate a lack of future perspective by and for the most vulnerable population groups in the state of Kerala, India: Children, women, and prisoners. Via a combination of futures studies methodology and participatory action research (PAR), the end goal of this starting project is to envision future images while actively participating in building (towards) those future scenarios – ultimately empowering the target audience(s) via art education that supports mental health.
With the Indian government having been working on the incorporation of Futures Studies throughout the country’s educational institutions since the 1970s (Seth, 1990); with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry’s (FICCI) investment in advancing the G20 goals; with the Ministry of Culture aware of India’s future educational challenges; with Kerala seeing an increase in start-ups … the time is now to envision what and how the people of Kerala (can) see their desired future for their society, and which steps can be taken via art education to achieve preferred visions of the future.