The Radical Imagination Labs
The first round of the Radical Imagination Labs has now concluded.
You can learn more about what took place during the first cohort and explore their creations using the ‘Learn’ dropdown or the button below.
About The Radical Imagination Labs
Thank you for your interest in The Radical Imagination Labs.
The Radical Imagination Labs is a course to facilitate the expansion of radical imagination. The course is centred on exploring fundamental and foundational questions around liberation, freedom, imagination, abolition, and what is possible in Black radical futures through a philosophical and spiritual lens.
Over the course, participants will:
Join a space designed to facilitate the co-creation of radical knowledge, under the guidance of the Free Black University’s Pedagogical Principles.
Collectively develop a journal that demonstrates the imagining that had taken place on the course.
Be part of a process to 'Archive Our Now', through curating an oral archive of the course to be presented in a podcast format
Participants will also be invited to discuss the Labs at an in-person Free Black University community gathering and celebration in Spring 2023.
This is a fully funded course, and we are going to accept up to 16 people to join us. Applications open on the 1st of July until the 15th of August 2022.
The course is held entirely online.
Who are the Radical Imagination Labs for?
The Radical Imagination Labs are for anyone who wants to dream and imagine alternative worlds and possibilities. For this first round, we are only inviting applications from people racialised as Black or mixed-Black. There are no age or qualification requirements to apply.
For more information about what to expect, check out the Course Overview and the Free Black University’s Pedagogical Principles, which underpins this work.
Download and review the full Application Pack and Guidance for all the application guidelines.
Key information
Application Timelines
Programme opens for applications on the 1st of July 2022
Applications must be received by 5pm (BST), 15th of August 2022
All applicants will be informed of the status of their application in mid-September
Course begins 3rd of October 2022.
Course Timelines
Participants will need to be available for the dates and periods detailed below in the Schedule, as well as the celebration in April 2023 (date TBC).
The course consists of three phases:
The first two phases take place over eight online sessions, starting on the evening of Monday the 3rd of October 2022, 6-8pm, and running weekly at the same time until the 21st of November.
After a two-week break for reading and rest, the third phase begins.
The third phase includes two online sessions on the evenings of the 5th of December and 12th of December 6-8pm.
In these last two sessions, and over the course of the winter, participants will develop the journal, working collaboratively to shape the project and individually on their own submissions. Participants will be free to organise their own teams and meetings as necessary for this period, with a view to completing their submissions by the end of January 2023.
Applications Now Closed
Applications for the first round of the Radical Imagination Labs are closed., To stay up to date on the Radical Imagination Labs and other Free Black University activities, make sure you sign up to our newsletter below!