This session explored “WHAT IF,” engaging participants in a discussion about the skills and competencies needed to equip people for the future. With evolving skill sets, changing contexts, and new types of knowledge required, what is the role of TAs in supporting them effectively? How can we ensure that we are preparing future practitioners with future capabilities rather than those of the past? The session examined the role of TAs and the challenges/barriers related to future-consciousness building in creative ways. The conversation was supported by Sudebi’s trans-disciplinary design collective D.epicentre and their recent work on Futures.

The follow-up working group will be invited to build a framework for a future literacy, fluency, competency, and consciousness curriculum for Teaching Artists across different contexts. This design-led process, lasting 6-8 months, will generate new ideas, theories, and wisdom based on existing knowledge and new partnerships. Sudebi aims to capture the working group’s processes and perspectives in a shareable guide that can act as a living document for others. This resource may become a multi-layered book, a simple website, games/simulations, or a toolkit, depending on the working group’s decisions.