Citizens of the Future

In year one and two (2009-2011) of the Citizen Power programme, the focus will be the Citizens of the Future project. This is an ambitious social action programme in Peterborough led by the RSA in partnership with Peterborough City Council, Arts Council East and Opportunity Peterborough.

This long-term collaboration cuts to the heart of the RSA mission to generate progressive social change through human creativity and ingenuity.

The aim is to provide Peterborough with a framework and infrastructure for generating and cultivating civic behaviour from the bottom-up that will last beyond the duration of the Citizens of the Future project. By doing this we will:

  • Explore the complex issues of place, identity and civic behaviour
  • Develop a distinctive identity for Peterborough that establishes the city as a place of national recognition
  • Understand how the arts can imaginatively contribute to a process of social change including social and environmental sustainability.
We are beginning to develop the concept of 'sustainable citizenship' as an underlying theme of the Citizens of the Future work in Peterborough. The concept of 'sustainable citizenship' links together pro-environmental behaviour with a wider project of cultivating and embedding civic behaviour and social responsibility in Peterborough. By doing this, Citizens of the Future delivery programme will help Peterborough move towards its ambition of becoming the UK’s Environmental Capital.

The feasibility study and scoping phase employed a multi-layered methodology consisting of:

  • Extensive literature review of research on
    (a) citizen engagement (b) behaviour change (c) place and identity (d) urban regeneration
  • Deliberative discussion groups with Peterborough citizens and community groups
  • In depth interviews with senior decision-makers in Peterborough from the public and business sectors, third sector and creative industries
  • Dialogue and engagement with RSA staff and fellows.
  • In November 2009, we will deliver a report detailing a practical programme of delivery to be implemented over the next 18 months.