Open Space Unconferences in Kink Communities

Most conferences publish a programme months in advance. An unconference reverses the order: the agenda is empty when the doors open, and the people in the room fill it. Weekend gatherings for kink and sex-positive communities in Canadian cities have used this approach, and their format shows clearly how such events work.

The Open Space idea

The method behind it is Open Space, devised by the organizational consultant Harrison Owen. Its core principles are that participants propose their own subjects, anyone may drift between discussions, and whoever turns up is the right group. Open Space has been used in business, community planning and academic settings. Sexuality-focused variants apply the same method to topics such as rope work, consent, relationships and community organizing, and some have been run in cities across North America. Any sexuality-related topic can land on the wall.

How a typical weekend unfolds

Such a gathering often begins with a Friday evening meet and greet so that strangers can get acquainted. A full day of sessions follows. At the start, attendees look at a bare wall standing in for the timetable, then write proposals on slips of paper: a discussion they want to lead, a skill to share, or a subject they hope someone else will cover. The organizers group the slips into a workable schedule and the day gets going. Organizers with backgrounds in theatre or event planning often name the open schedule as the format's best feature.

Evenings, brunch and public events

Evenings usually include social events, which may be held at a community venue or a fetish-friendly retailer. A closing brunch offers more conversation, and some programmes finish early enough for participants to join public events such as marches. SlutWalk, for example, began in Toronto as a march protesting victim-blaming in conversations about sexual assault, and it grew into an international series of protests. Organizers have sometimes seen a link between the two, expecting the connections made over a weekend to carry into broader community action.

Reception and trade-offs

Facilitators of unconferences sometimes compare the experience to a satisfying social event, leaving participants tired, delighted and keen for more. They also acknowledge that the blank wall can unsettle attendees and facilitators alike, though once sessions start most people are too busy to stay nervous. Fans of unconferences say they surface topics that standard conventions overlook, since every item exists because someone cares about it. Critics point out that an unstructured schedule can leave some subjects uncovered or let confident speakers dominate.

Adult-only spaces and house rules

Gatherings of this type are limited to adults, and organizers generally publish codes of conduct covering consent, privacy and respectful behaviour. Specific series, venues and formats change over time, so the description above reflects the general model rather than any single weekend.