The pop-up nature of Edgelands was more than just a format; it was the driving force behind our work. Its limited duration created a unique intensity, channelling energy into every project we undertook.

Although pop-up structures are more common in commercial endeavours, such as pop-up stores, we built on this concept to develop public engagement on crucial contemporary issues, bringing together the social, artistic, and academic fields in new and exciting ways.

This structure enabled horizontal collaboration between a wide range of individuals and organisations, breaking down the accessibility barriers that often silence voices in traditional academic and policy circles. It was also quickly apparent that this model generated excitement around events, which in turn helped to raise awareness of the complex issues related to security and digital technologies in diverse urban landscapes.

We have curated The Archive around the core benefits of this approach, preserving the documents that illustrate this methodology.

The Edgelands pop-up methodology is defined as a combination of academic research, citizen participation and art within a set timeframe. The transdisciplinary nature of the methodology, combining science and art, helped us break down traditional barriers to knowledge.

This methodology operates in cycles.

We established temporary residences in various cities, each with different urban social contracts. During each residency, the on-site Edgelands team was responsible for curating and hosting spaces for conversations with local stakeholders about security, digital surveillance, and its impact on the urban social contract. Each pop-up event followed a spiral structure, with each activity informing and shaping the themes and discussions of the next.

In each city, we followed a similar cycle divided into three phases: framing the discussion, popping up, and popping down.

At its heart, Edgelands was a collective of individuals who came together to form a vibrant community. Our work existed solely because of these people.

Throughout our journey, we cultivated an internationally diverse network of artists, researchers, policymakers, community organisers, and many others. Yet this network extended beyond the confines of the Institute, continuing to grow, adapt, and connect.

To explore an interactive visualisation of this community, click the 'Edgelands Network' link below.

Once our activities in a city were completed, the Institute would “pop down” from that location. This final phase was marked by a public closing event, a celebration of the spaces we had created and an opportunity to share the key insights we had gained.

However, “popping down” was not about leaving. It was about inviting and encouraging residents, whether as neighbours, professionals, academics or policymakers, to continue exploring and building on the themes and conversations introduced during the Institute's time there.

We wove these local insights into the fabric of our subsequent pop-ups, ensuring that each new project built on the last. This created a continuous thread of learning that connected our journey across the globe.

We invite you to explore the final reflections of our Pop-up projects below.