Transformative Walks – Water in Motion
Project period: August 15, 2023 – April 30, 2024
Location: Neustrelitz
The project “Transformative Walks” invited citizens to collaboratively develop visions for a sustainable water culture in Neustrelitz. Led by journalist Jens Wiesner and myself, the project transformed conversations from shared walks into fictional short stories envisioning the region’s “water future.”
Project Concept & Process
Each walk began at the Neustrelitz marketplace. From there, participants guided the initiator to places that held personal significance in relation to water. In open conversations, ideas emerged that were later turned into literary narratives.
Results
- A collection of fictional short stories exploring possible future scenarios
- A fictional Nordkurier article set in the year 2033
- A printed booklet containing all stories
- An interactive final presentation on April 20, 2024, at the Alte Kachelofenfabrik, where visitors actively took on and performed roles from the stories
Participants were also invited to vote for their favorite story — forming the basis for future projects of the Blue Community Neustrelitz.
Outlook
In October 2024, the third season of the series “The Future of Our Water” began, supported by the Demokratie leben!program. Selected ideas from the walks — such as the “Heat Pump at Glammi” and compost toilets in public spaces — are now being further developed in collaboration with experts.
In the long term, the resulting visions will be presented to the city council to inspire future initiatives.
The project was also presented at the Utopia Conference 2024 at Leuphana University Lüneburg.
Further information: