The Small Democracy of Rathlin Island

This workshop is hosted by Belfast School of Art, particularly the PhD Researcher Brian Morgan (for whom this mini-public is forming the practice piece in his dissertation). Brian is supervised by the Head of Belfast School of Art, Dr Brian Dixon, who will introduce the workshop background. Both Brian’s are design researchers who have a particular interest in how design can influence policymaking and democracy.

Rathlin Island is unique; not just in terms of its astounding beauty and remoteness, not just by virtue of being the only inhabited island off Northern Ireland, but by the fact that it has developed and agreed it’s very own policy – the Rathlin Island Policy.  From what we can tell, this is the only single-island-specific policy throughout the UK & Ireland.

The people of Rathlin have been engaging in a process of co-design for over 10 years now utilising a technique known as visual minutes. This method has covered many important topics relevant to island life; now they are moving on in their adventures in democratic innovation!

Rathlin have now decided to form their very own mini-public (called the Rathlin Citizens Panel). Mini-publics are groups of citizens selected through civic lottery and supported to engage in evidence-informed deliberation. This style of democratic innovation helps to address a fundamental question of the island, namely: “What would our ideal ferry service look like and how could it help us address our ambitions regarding net zero moving forward?”

Not stopping short there, this mini-public is community-led. Most mini-publics are delivered by Governmental bodies. Further innovation is sought by introducing design methods into the deliberation that seek to foreground play, friction and imagination.

Design for Policy (DfP) has grown exponentially since the 2010’s. It has the potential to address complex policy problems, highlighting how design can transform policymaking by reframing practices, models, and (importantly in this case) expertise. Recently, DfP has taken a turn by investigating ‘bottom-up’ policymaking; how design could catalyse communities’ involvement in policymaking. Collective action has always had potential for effective policy impact in Northern Ireland.

They will be joined by David Quinney-Mee, who works for the Rathlin Development Community Association (RDCA). Members of the Rathlin Citizens Panel will also be invited.

The Rathlin Citizens Panel, through the methods (delivered by Brian), aim to provide a space for:

1. shared learning to build collective and individual understanding of the evidence;
2. deliberation of the issues and trade-offs through a variety of designerly methods; and
3. arrival via an agreed decision-making process at some recommendations, that the Department of Infrastructure have confirmed will be considered.

Attendees at this event will hear from organisers and participants in the mini-public and will get the chance to try out one of the design-led facilitation methods utilised on the island.

This work is part of a wider piece of design-led research called Future Island Island, which is a regenerative design project shaping a greener future. This is one of four Arts and Humanities Research Council funded Green Transition Ecosystems projects.

Part of Imagine! Belfast Festival of Ideas & Politics>>