Art of Hosting Belgium - Invitation

Some years ago, living in Belgium and seeing the rise of extreme right voters, I wrote down the question: What if having meaningful conversations would shift the outcome of the next elections?

And now here we are: The "Art of Hosting and Convening Meaningful Conversations" workshop is happening in Belgium!

We built this online space primarily for the participants of the workshop held October 11-13 + 14, 2006 at a  beautiful venue.  But whoever is interested, please read along!

Come in and take a look at who is coming!

If you want to know about this powerful social technology, look at the freshly built, new website of Art Of Hosting ! You will find lots of interesting ideas, beautiful pictures and inspiring thoughts! You can also download the full workshop brochure from there or from Ria's website.

Why this workshop is offered?

From the brochure:

"We invite leaders, trainers, teachers, consultants, politicians, entrepreneurs, social innovators, hosts: people who want to experience a different perspective of leadership, which sets free other people's creativity and intelligence in order to achieve better cooperation and results together through co-creative processes.

This training is built on the assumption - and experience – that seeking change for the common good calls for involvement, collective intelligence and co-creation to discover solutions and wise actions.

Human beings that are involved and invited to work together will take ownership and responsibility when the ideas and solutions must be put into action. Initiating and hosting conversations that matter is a core leadership competence that leads to significant change at both individual and collective levels."

Tatiana, one of the organizers says: I am looking forward to what our collective can discover together by gathering in co-learning in this inspired place tucked into the folds of the Belgian countryside  - where do we find meaning and what meaningful action can spring forth from that?  How can we be awaken to our possibility in our lives/work and, as a small cluster of 'change agents', awaken to our possibility to be the change we want to see in the world? 

Because we want the workshop be closely related to real questions and work situations of the participants we asked them to answer the following three questions. Clicking on any of them, you will find their answers. 

What inspired you to participate in The Art of Hosting?

Which are the burning questions that you are participating with?

In which context do you wish to use the skills you attain during this training?

Following the basic training of three days, there will be an extra event. The brochure says:

"The Art of Hosting is much more than facilitation and hosting. It is also a community of practitioners willing to create and host with others, blending methods and practices with others, seeking partnership.

Art of Hosting will be part of and support a shift towards a more sustainable future for organisations and communities, large and small. Building and co-creating a genuine, robust learning community is the purpose of this extra Art of Hosting ‘at work’ day.

We intend this day to be the beginning of an unfolding process in Vlaanderen, Belgium (and Europe) towards a web-enabled network of AoH practitioners; working together for a sustainable, participatory future; guided by wisdom, respect and care. Throughout this day and in the network, participants will work on their own projects; in the context of Art of Hosting conversations that matter, co-hosted by experienced Art of Hosting practitioners and in support of each other."

Participants of the basic course are encouraged to invite colleagues, fellow facilitators, hosts and community-organisers who want to join in this future to come; even if they didn't participate in the first three days!

If this is calling to you, and you are not able to join in the basic training, or if you don't know this is the right place to be; please come for this co-creative day and find out yourself!