Play as a tool to unlock imagination - who gets to play and imagine?

When did we stop playing - and what did we lose when we did?

In a world weighed down by crisis and urgency, this session makes the case for play not as escape, but as an essential tool. Play is a gateway to imagination, creativity, and resistance - and we ask: who has permission to play?

From the rough-and-tumble of childhood to the imaginative leaps of artists and activists, play is where we learn to prototype, to rehearse, to test what else might be possible. What if play is one of our most radical tools for dreaming up new futures - and for building the courage to resist the status quo?

Considering how small, daily acts of disobedience that prepare us for larger acts of resistance - this conversation explores how play can help us stretch the muscles of collective imagination, defiance, and joy. When we play, we loosen the grip of “how things are” and practice the art of “what if.” In that space, change becomes not just possible, but playful and joyful. 

Speakers:  Mikayla Sinead, Liz Pickering (Wild Rumpus), Abigail Gaines (Make Space)

Chair: Kate McLaven (JRF)

Format: Panel