Big Works
It’s time to take some big swings for the future of democracy. This is why we have launched three big projects that will start appearing publicly in 2023 and 2024. If you are interested in supporting these projects, just drop us a line.
Scale: Democratic Action Funds
We have launched the Democratic Action Fund concept with the support of the Berggruen Institute. Operating globally, DAFs will disperse funds to eligible public entities. For instance, in Canada, we estimate that a national Democratic Action Fund will enable 3,000 Canadians to contribute more than 12,000 hours advising governments. In Canada DAF will be managed by the Public Trust, which will also house a Centre for Deliberative Excellence and operate different extension and alumni programs.
Exhibition: Democracy: The Future of a Radical Idea
We are in the midst of planning a four year, 20,000 sq ft travelling exhibition to tell the story of the challenges facing democracy and its future. DFRI is an immersive, multi-city show of confidence and possibility that connects, informs and entertains audiences, while posing critical questions about how free societies should organize themselves to face the future.
Using an array of large scale visuals, participatory experiences and engaging technology, this exhibition seeks to inspire and provoke our audience while examining the origins, contemporary reality and future of democracy.
Book: Democracy’s Second Act: Creating the publics we need for the society we want
DSA is a book that aims to challenge something we take for granted: the public. We call it the “second act” because, for the past 250 or so years, the story of democracy has broadly been the story of suffrage—the long struggle for voting rights and electoral representation has been the “first act” in the great drama of democracy. But now we’ve reached a critical juncture: a transition from a world where voting is the most essential element of participating in democracy to one where the active public service of citizens in the work of government becomes its essence.
Network: POP! The Global Alumni Network for Citizens' Assembly Members and Facilitators
POP! is an alumni network for people who have participated in or staffed any of the more than 100 Citizens’ Assemblies that happen around the world each year. As part of its 15th anniversary celebrations, MASS is contributing its list of more 1600 Canadian assembly participants and 50 facilitators to kickstart this initiative.