‘The Booth’ is inspired by the 2014 Commonwealth Games to celebrate the contribution that every person makes to society. Particularly those who are not generally acknowledged.
We invite participants to nominate a person in their life that deserves a medal – marking their qualities or accomplishments on a simple form. They are also asked what they themselves deserve a medal for. This can be anything from saving a life, to making their bed that morning. Each participant will be awarded a Gallus Medal on tartan ribbon, marked with their name and skill or contribution.
All medal winners are added to the Big Jotter of Acknowledgment, a publication which will be gifted to the City and the Commonwealth Games from the Citizens of Glasgow.
Our mobile Throne of Acknowledgment has articulated noise and movement to celebrate each person as they get their medal.
If you would like the booth to come and acknowledge your staff or group, please get in touch. There is a small charge per medal; Acknowledgment – priceless!
The Throne of Acknowledgment in development.
The project is created and by artist Kathleen Friend.
Throne build and design by Sarah Kenchington & Kathleen Friend.
Sarah Kenchington at work, photographed by Kathleen Friend
This Booth is also linked with Kathleen’s artist residency with Scottish Police in Govan. ‘We Are Listening’ Project – www.wearelistening.org.uk
CONTEXT:
Receiving acknowledgment without dismissal, deflection or embarrassment is a skill. ‘Modesty is a virtue’, but it can cause a person to overlook their value and accomplishments.
The opportunities in the Acknowledgment Booth project:
Having the opportunity to state what you want to be acknowledged for is an exercise in assertiveness and self expression – you know best what you did well that day, week or year. It could be something you did for someone else or a personal triumph over a habit or difficult situation. Thinking positively about yourself and others is an antidote to negativity and helplessness.
The benefits of Acknowledgement and Appreciation in the workplace/with volunteers:
Satisfying and positive work/volunteering environment
More committed, energetic and involved workforce
Ability to attract and keep the best talent
Increased effectiveness in implementation of change efforts
Everybody is reminded of the qualities and mission that the team wants to promote.
http://positivenews.org.uk/2014/culture/media/16041/good-news-doesnt-cheer-2/
Author and personal coach Monica Giordani – “As soon as we grow, we learn how to control ourselves and this is because the messages we get from school, family, culture – albeit with a good intentions – are focused toward things that don’t work and what we need to improve.”
From school age, she says, we are judged according to the mistakes that we make rather than being rewarded and encouraged for our natural and individual inclinations. Socially speaking, good actions are often minimised and generally labelled as a normal consequence of educational pressures and social conventions and thus they are taken for granted.
But is there any bigger mistake than taking goodness for granted, considering, as Shakespeare wrote: “How far that little candle throws his beams! So shines a good deed in a weary world.” Perhaps if we were to focus more on the good in ourselves and others, we would find that the world is not in fact as weary as we’ve been led to believe.
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