The Futures of
Creativity & Compassion
The Association of Professional Futurists (APF) is delighted to partner with OCAD University in The Futures of Creativity and Compassion. This is the first APF event since 2023, and the first APF event in Toronto since 2010. It will gather together practitioners working at the intersection of futures, design, system change to explore transformational futures.
A Convivial Approach
This conference stands out by focusing on interactive social technologies that foster collaboration and engagement. Participants are encouraged to explore other ways of knowing through discussion and embodied practices of experiencing. The event includes immersive installations designed to provoke thought and inspire creativity. Additionally, it provides an ongoing area for participants to ruminate and process emotions, as highlighted by the Space for Grief initiative.
In a time of social disruption and fragmentation, this conference is particularly significant. It aims to navigate towards a more desirable future by emphasizing the importance of compassion and collective understanding. By fostering deep connections and collaborative efforts, the event seeks to address current societal challenges and inspire participants to envision and work towards a more harmonious and inclusive world. Unlike typical conferences, it does not have keynotes and is designed for participation rather than one-way communication. For those who wish to vent or gather a listening audience, there is an ongoing open mic speakers' corner set up just for that.
*Evening Reception on the 15th, Program Starts 16th
This is not a typical conference.
It is a convivial space for experimentation, connection, and transformation—
where futures are not only imagined but felt, shared, and lived.
Why Creativity & Compassion?
Creativity is the ability to generate innovative, meaningful and unique ideas. It involves breaking free from traditional norms and forging new pathways. Developing creative thinking and making skills is an integral part of becoming a futurist or foresight practitioner. In this turbulent world, which often prizes self-interest and competition, compassion promotes meaningful connections and builds stronger relationships, which are essential for creative problem-solving and addressing the challenges that changemakers tackle.
Conference
Highlights
The program will feature:
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Interactive workshops
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Experiential futures installations and performances
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Unconference sessions for emergent conversations
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Spaces for rumination and reflection
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A Speakers Corner
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Networking with other changemakers
Mission Statement
The Futures of Creativity and Compassion conference is a gathering of foresight practitioners, designers, artists, and changemakers committed to doing things differently. Hosted by the Association of Professional Futurists in partnership with OCAD University, this event invites participants to explore alternative ways of knowing, sensing, and connecting through immersive, interactive, and emotionally resonant experiences.
We aim to:
Center participation over presentation
eschewing keynotes in favor of co-creation, dialogue, and open expression
Support local and sustainable practices
sourcing materials and suppliers with care and striving for zero waste
Foster embodied and multisensory learning
through installations, workshops, and practices that engage the whole self
Encourage interpersonal exploration & individual rumination
recognizing that futures thinking is both a shared and deeply personal journey
Create space for emotional processing and reflection
including initiatives like the Space for Grief and an open mic Speakers’ Corner
Inspire new paradigms of compassion and creativity
as essential tools for navigating disruption and building more just, inclusive, and desirable futures
Schedule is COming soon!
EVENT REGISTRATION
*The registration fee will be paid in US dollars, we've listed all prices in Canadian dollars for your reference.
About the Organizers
The Association of Professional Futurists is a global community of futurists, dedicated to promoting professional excellence and demonstrating the value of strategic foresight and Futures Studies for their clients and/ or employers. Founded in 2002, the APF now includes more than 500 members from 60 countries.
OCAD University (OCADU) is Canada's oldest, largest and leading art and design university, located in downtown Toronto since 1876. OCADU’s Strategic Foresight and Innovation (SFI) MDes Program, the first program of its kind in Canada, prepares Change Makers and Innovation Leaders to navigate and drive complex change in a rapidly evolving world.