Oi Polloi is a social enterprise and arts & culture-led development agency that regenerates undermined areas by applying a new socioeconomic blueprint. Through place-based innovation, we help communities rediscover and rebuild their own purpose, identity, and financial backbone by spreading the sharing economy / commons. We call it ‘cascading civilisation’. Our aim? A renaissance of humanity – which in practical terms means developing a technology of peace, ie a community regeneration toolkit that spreads stability, prosperity, and personal agency.

Instead of using shopping malls and office blocks to breathe life into neighbourhoods, we use the arts, culture, and technology. Instead of waiting for permission from up top, we go ahead and provide the stage for leading edge thinkers, practitioners, and big hearts to guide us as we reimagine how society operates.

Our cultural regeneration strategy involves acquiring property of historic and cultural significance, renovating and preserving these heritage buildings, and using them as a platform / hub for education and community restoration.

Our motivation

We believe that humanity’s endeavours have become too far removed from values that are in harmony with the personal and greater good. We also believe it’s down to us to rewrite the rules of life.

After all, humans are unique in that ‘we are able to create physical instantiations of the objects we imagine. Whereas other species are stuck with nature’s inventory.’ (César Hidalgo). Why not dare to imagine a legacy that resonates through the ages? A renaissance of humanity? Consider yourself invited.

Oi Polloi

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