Introducing Our 10 Positions

When People United formed in 2006, our focus was a bold exploration of the impact of creativity on wellbeing and the power of kindness as a force for change. Our mission, vision, and values centred kindness and spoke to our commitment to this founding research exploration. However, in recent years we’ve found that a traditional approach to communicating our methodology no longer feels as bold.

We are changing how we talk about work, shifting from a mission, vision and values statement to an adapting and active set of positions. We want our ten positions to provide clarity to our collaborators, connect us with those who share our priorities, and to remind us why we do the work we do. This new framework allows us more flexibility and reflectivity as we approach our 20th anniversary. We still share our old ‘vision’, a dream of a kinder world, but our current positions align more succinctly with the work we do, and better reflect the learnings we’ve gained from our collaborations. As one of our ten positions currently states, “we make intentional choices’’, so we’re actively changing to this new model.

While these positions may shift as we grow and learn, they represent how we feel right now, as an organisation that makes art, connects people and works for change.

1. We are an arts organisation: we believe that everyone is an artist. That’s why we want to make art with you, not for you.
2. Our work is human-centred: our work is relational. We recognise the importance of being vulnerable and the effect that may have on the communities we work with. When appropriate we work with trauma conscious artists.
3. We make intentional choices: we pride ourselves on making bold, brave decisions about how we work and are not led by funding priorities or trends.
4. We lead/participate in strategic conversations: these conversations lead to partnerships, understanding, and build foundations for effective and lasting collaboration.
5. We learn and change: as a learning organisation we aim to create, acquire and transfer knowledge, enabling us to think holistically and systemically. Reflection and sharing within the creative sector and beyond are central to our practice.
6. We establish trust through slow relationship-building, working in solidarity with our local communities: we work with communities who are most affected by inequality, recognising power imbalances and, using our co-design methodology, strive for a more equal platform.
7. We are mindful of our place and impact in the world: we make collaborative art where our communities are (from people’s homes to public spaces), meeting people where they’re at.
8. We acknowledge there is a climate crisis: we want to do more than produce policies; we are actively creating programmes and practice which lead to a net zero future.
9. We embrace the unknown: we stay curious and brave, creating space for self-expression and a place to be more honest, joyful and celebratory.
10. We are building a positive legacy: what we leave behind matters; we have an ongoing commitment to create positive and lasting impact through the ‘ripple effect’ and cross sector working.