If They Build It, They Will Come

image courtesy Walker Art Center

The Walker Art Center in Minneapolis is among the nation's most celebrated contemporary art museums, with one of the largest urban sculpture parks in the U.S., filled with works by leading American and international artists.

How could it possibly get any better?

Last summer, a team of more than 30 architects,  designers, and artists crowdsourced the design of the four-acre "Open Field,"  a grassy community commons where the public is invited to create and schedule their own events.

Residents can teach a class, create experimental art, play music, or simply spread out some blankets and host a book club meeting. There's free wireless, and food and beer are available for purchase.

The Center enabled the community to self-organize and schedule events using a combination of Google apps and Wordpress software. The Center also creates its own programming -- the crowdsourced events ensure that the public gets exactly what it wants, too.

Last year was Open Field's first events season, but not the last. It returns in June.

Thanks to Utne Reader for the tip-off.

Idea File: Crowdsourced Confetti

When I interviewed futurist David Houle about how society and culture are changing for a story in the December issue, one of the things we talked about is the paradox of the new high-tech/high-touch environment. Digital natives, who have grown up never knowing what it is like to be without the Internet and cell phones, are not only the most technologically advanced generation, but among the most connected. "They text one another all day long," Houle pointed out. "They hug."

I thought of that conversation when I read that NYC & Company is collecting wishes, both in-person and online, which they will include as a part of the confetti that flutters down to mark midnight in Times Squares. Visitors can write them in person on a "New Year's Eve Wishing Wall" at the Times Square Information Center, or submit them online.

Who knew confetti could be interactive?

Image courtesy NYC & Company

Friending Fiscal Policy in the UK

It's one thing to talk about how the social web flattens out hierarchies, but it is another thing to see Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg -- wearing a blue t-shirt -- videochat with UK Prime Minister David Cameron about using Facebook to connect with Britain's 26 million Facebook users for ideas on how to straighten out the UK's finances.

The British government is partnering with Facebook in "The Spending Challenge," which asks UK Facebook users for their ideas on how the government can reduce its spending and pare the deficit. The first phase, directed at workers in the public sector, elicited 60,000 comments, and the campaign is now open to all British citizens.

The initiative has already saved Britain millions, maybe billions of pounds, Cameron told Zuckerberg, by providing a platform for engaging the public. "That's a pretty good start."

Hat tip to Mashable.com.