For the 2023 Global Social and Solidarity Economy Forum in Dakar, Senegal, Axle supported multimedia artist MoyoOyelola in adapting an immersive performance art experience that engaged civil society leaders from 37 countries. The goal was to challenge perceptions of government processes and inspire new ways of engaging with institutions.
(approach)
Axle collaborated with Oyelola to take the "Department of the People + Process," a fictional government branch under the Division of False Authority, on the road from Austin, TX to Dakar, Senegal. This interactive activation blended performance art with policy critique, using live performance, visual storytelling, and participatory dialogue to explore how service design shapes public perception of governance. The installation was carefully adapted to align with the conference’s theme, language, and cultural context.
(RESULTS)
This collaboration sparked critical discussions on bureaucracy, imagination, and civic engagement. The activation demonstrated how art can reframe institutional processes, using creativity to inspire dialogue and reimagine public service design.
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