Utopia Stock Exchange – A Trading Floor for Local Utopias at Dortmunder U

Every city needs a place where its inhabitants can develop their visions for its future, a place where they can turn their ideas inside out, test their potential and try out their appeal. A meeting point where – similarly to a stock market – hard facts meet radical imagination. A place where people can dream, deal, rate and maybe even crash collectively. A place where citizens can gamble on the future of their city.

For the project UTOPIA STOCK EXCHANGE we are appealing to inhabitants of Dortmund and its environs. We are looking for utopias of any kind. Anyone with a good idea that has the potential to be developed may take part.

A selection of the submitted utopias will become part of the UTOPIA STOCK EXCHANGE game, which takes place at Dortmunder U on 18 January 2014. Here, utopias will be traded as shares and for actual money – exactly like on the stock exchange.

UTOPIA STOCK EXCHANGE asks: What would you do if for once money, time and feasibility didn’t matter? What should Dortmund look like if everything were possible? What would be different in a perfect world? How would politics, the economy and society be organised in your dream world? The game will decide which utopia attracts the largest number of supporters and what really counts in the end – money or the belief in the future? Who can take part? Anyone living in Dortmund or its environs.

Which kind of utopias are we looking for?
We are looking for utopias aimed at improving the city of Dortmund, the participant’s own immediate surroundings or even the entire world. It doesn’t matter if your idea is small or big, funny or serious, elaborate or spontaneous: all kinds of utopias are welcome.

How to submit your utopia?
PLAY ONLINE from 8 December 2013 at utopiastockexchange.de. Application forms on which you can describe or outline your utopia are also available in the exhibition Requiem für eine Bank. Alternatively, you can also get in touch with the organisers at utopien@hmkv.de.

Why is it important to state your name and email address?
A selection will be made among all submissions. The shortlisted utopias will then be traded on the floor. Email addresses are required to contact the participants.

What happens with the selected utopias?
The selected utopias will be presented through short photo and video portraits on the website of the event and during the game. The shortlisted utopists may attend the event at Dortmunder U in person and watch their utopias being traded.

UTOPIA STOCK EXCHANGE is a game format developed by Invisible Playground, an artist collective that devises games for cities in collaboration with their inhabitants.