Speakers
Description
Although urban planning has traditionally revolved around human-centric narratives, emergent discourses highlight the need to incorporate the “more-than-human” dimension into planning arenas. Building on the theoretical framework of relational ontologies, this paper describes an experimental initiative that applies an art-based methodology to a process of citizen engagement focusing on the relationship between public participation and environmental issues. Drawing on targeted workshops and a mini-public deliberation, we reflect on how participants’ heightened sensitivity toward plant intelligence and agency encourages more inclusive and ecological perspectives when discussing regional policy frameworks, resource allocation, and future spatial transformations. Two groups of young students between 16 and 18 years old are compared, with only one having experienced a direct interaction with plant-based artistic installations. The goal of the initiative, made possible through the collaboration between the H2020-funded project PHOENIX and the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna, is to assess whether immersive encounters with such artistic installations can foster the recognition of the agency of non-human actors, catalyze innovative narratives, and contribute to challenging entrenched anthropocentric assumptions in planning. Ultimately, the paper aims to contribute to the research on innovative approaches capable of broadening the narratives that underlie planning deliberations. Our findings reveal both the promise and limitations of integrating more-than-human voices: while such interventions can spark reflection on multispecies cohabitation and environmental stewardship, the challenge of moving beyond symbolic representation toward substantial political and institutional recognition remains significant. Moreover, by blending reflective theory and experimental praxis, it demonstrates how art-infused processes can help bridge longstanding divides and challenge normative assumptions. We conclude that incorporating relational, more-than-human narratives into planning discourses not only expands the scope of transformative action but also offers a possible route to more robust, inclusive, and sustainable planning outcomes.
| Keywords | more-than-human; art-based methodology; citizen engagement; participatory planning; |
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| Best Congress Paper Award | No |
