Description
CM Space supported Julie’s Bicycle Europe to facilitate participatory engagement with creative and cultural industry professionals in the development of the GreenCCIrcle HUB as part of the GreenCCIrcle living labs, in particular the European Living Lab in Venice.
GreenCCIrcle is a three-year European funded project which aims to bridge creativity and sustainability in the Creative and Cultural Industries (CCI’s) by empowering CCI professionals to innovate and share environmentally responsible practices and learn green skills. There are nine participating countries, with Julie’s Bicycle Europe operating as the Irish project partner. Julie’s Bicycle Europe is a partnership between Native Events and Julie’s Bicycle (UK) working to mobilise creative climate action across Europe with arts, creative and cultural organisations and networks.
CM Space designed the stakeholder engagement process in Ireland with Julie’s Bicycle Europe as part of the overarching Living Labs Methodology, as well as validating the GreenCCIrcle HUB and stakeholder mapping tool through a participatory workshop as part of the European Living Lab in Venice in December 2025.
The Living Labs Methodology was used to validate the two core deliverables of the GreenCCIrcle project:
1. The GreenCCIrcle Academy
A free online learning platform that sets the standard for the role of a sustainability facilitator working in the CCI’s in Europe.
2. The GreenCCIrcle HUB
A practical toolkit designed for sustainability facilitators in the CCI’s including a growing resource library from all CCI sectors and most EU countries, as well as an online stakeholder mapping tool; communications templates; and data gathering templates.
What did the process look like?
- CCI professionals were selected and invited to participate in a Local Living Lab in Dublin to validate the GreenCCIrcle Academy online lessons created by Julie's Bicycle Europe.
- Participant feedback in the Local Living Lab was documented, suggested changes were prioritised according to the project objectives and implemented prior to the European Living Lab.
- Designed and delivered a hands-on 50 person workshop to test and validate the GreenCCIrcle HUB online resource library and the stakeholder mapping tool in Venice as part of the European Living Lab.
- Tested and validated the CCI roles, levels of influence and systemic levers for change by creating a game using playing cards based on the stakeholder mapping online tool; typical real-life scenarios of implementing sustainability in the CCIs; and string to play with a living, dynamic stakeholder map.
- Updated the GreenCCIrcle HUB with new resources, tools, case studies and networks gathered during the European Living Lab from all participating countries.
By using participatory approaches to stakeholder engagement such as somatic practice, active listening and play we were able to successfully test and validate the GreenCCIrcle HUB and stakeholder mapping tool in a fun and engaging way. This was an energising experience for participants, many of whom asked for the playing cards and game instructions to be published and shared as an open source resource afterwards.
CM Space are proud of how this workshop allowed participants from different countries and CCI sectors to successfully collaborate and co-design the GreenCCIrcle HUB tool, sharing an embodied experience of what stakeholder mapping is; and how understanding the diversity of roles and their level of influence in the system can accelerate the sustainability transition in the CCIs. Participants left the workshop feeling empowered that everyone has a vital role to play in the sustainability transition and that systemic change comes through connection, relationship and culture.
If you would like support in designing and facilitating your next participatory engagement or co-design process, please get in touch with us at hello@changemakingspace.com to find out more.
