Why do we struggle to find common ground?
Society is more polarised and fragmented than ever before and many of us have lost the ability to listen to the other side: almost half of Australians feel the nation is more divided today than in the past (Edelman Trust Barometer 2023).
At the same time, we’ve shrunk the potential spaces for everyday people to come together and hear each other out. We’ve swapped debate for comment wars. This makes society weaker - as without the ability to empathise with each other, especially when its most difficult, we’ll never make progress on the big things that matter.
That’s where The Parley comes in. The Parley is a signature program of the Museum of Sticks & Stones (MoSS) designed to create spaces for courageous and respectful conversations about the topics that challenge and divide us.
It’s not about changing minds but building common ground—helping us all understand and hold space for perspectives that differ from our own, without devolving into the hostility so common in digital exchanges. In short, The Parley teaches us how to disagree with kindness and respect.
And a lot of laughs.
87%
of surveyed Parley attendees reported being able to better empathise with opposing views as a result of attending.
HOW IT WORKS
As a public event series
We’ve hosted sold-out Parleys at some of Brisbane’s most iconic arts venues, including the Brisbane Powerhouse and the newly revitalised Thomas Dixon Centre.
The Parley brings together teams of comedians, artists, academics, and community members to debate divisive, timeless, and often unanswerable questions. We carefully consider topics to Parley, intentionally choosing subjects that are not just complex, but fraught with disagreement.
As a community tool
The Parley is also a flexible framework that can be brought to any organisation, team, or community.
Whether you’re navigating change, tackling a complex problem, or fostering dialogue, The Parley provides a structured, engaging way to explore multiple perspectives. We can source expert debaters or help your community members step into The Parley framework themselves, fostering dialogue that is both challenging and constructive.
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