“We need stories of belonging that move us toward each other, not from each other; ways of being human that open up the possibilities of being alive together; ways of navigating our differences that deepen our curiosity, that deepen our friendship, that deepen our capacity to disagree, that deepen the argument of being alive. This is what we need. This is the work of imagination.” 

- Pádraig Ó Tuama

Introduction

In the face of a climate emergency and in an increasingly urbanised and disconnected world, we can find ourselves paralysed. Our ideas feel inadequate to the scale of the challenge, we feel alone in our views, and it’s difficult to know what to do or where to begin.

In Southbank, however, we do know where to begin: with belonging.

Despite being the most densely populated part of Melbourne, home to a rich hospitality sector and one of Australia’s most vibrant arts precincts, many people who live and work in Southbank report feeling disconnected and express a desire to feel a greater sense of belonging to place and community.