Values

Even if our new college has a specific location that not everyone can attend or a fee that not everyone can pay, we still aim to be inclusive and welcome as many people as possible.

We are fascinated by craft, by art, by high aesthetics, and high quality. We aim to become better at what we do. We don’t expect us to already be good, only to want to become better.

It might seem that seriousness is fundamental to high quality work and learning but it might be the opposite that’s true. Playfulness and humour is not only how we can laugh at ourselves and notice (and accept) our unavoidable defects but it is also how we can just have fun.

Deals and transactions are a fair way to work by making sure everybody is respected. We value and deeply utilise fair exchanges in how we work. But, many times, the unexpected joy of a gift feels superior.

We aspire for democratic principles in governance, administration, organisation. We value consent and consensus and we disallow ourselves from taking actions that will cause pain to someone. We also aspire for democracy in the frame of knowledge. We have no interest in a teacher providing an expert’s final judgement on matters. Instead: may there be debate amongst everyone, one which results in everyone understanding the other’s position.

What’s the point of a learning institution unless we are curious to explore the unknown? Whether it’s unknown to us or to everyone is irrelevant.

Being together, learning together, collaborating together, celebrating together. We know we can do a lot alone; we are excited for what we can do collectively. We know we can make things for ourselves; we are excited to make things for everyone — in the service of the advancement of the commons.