From Storymaking to Storydrawing: Visualising Collective Strength in Pays de Lumbres
In February, our French partner Communauté de Communes du Pays de Lumbres (CCPL) gathered 300 participants for their 2026 New Year Ceremony – a key annual moment to reflect, connect and set direction for the year ahead.
This year’s guiding theme was:
“A Territory of Great Value, A Source of Talent and Initiative.”
But this was not a traditional ceremony of speeches and statistics. CCPL Hub chose a living, participatory and highly visual format to showcase the results. “We were inspired by the SIRR storymaking workshops, on how to put into words - or images - the challenges of a territory” – Clémence Dermenghem, CCPL
Throughout the evening, graphic facilitator Olivier Sampson translated testimonials, reflections and key messages into a large-scale live illustration. As speakers shared their experiences, ideas and ambitions, the drawing evolved in real time, making visible the interconnections between actors, projects and values.
The result is more than an illustration. It is a visual synthesis of how a territory works when public authorities, businesses, civil society and residents act together.
As CCPL describes it: “A territory is not told only through numbers or speeches. Drawing makes visible the dynamics, connects ideas, projects and values, and expresses the strength of the collective.” The final artwork now hangs in the Maison des Services of the CCPL as a lasting reminder of the year’s achievements and shared ambitions.
Hub Development in Practice
The event clearly demonstrated CCPL’s role as a territorial ub and project accelerator. The programme was structured around three interconnected challenges shaping the region’s development:
1. Economic Dynamism and Innovation
“A Region Transforming, Attracting and Innovating.”
Speakers illustrated how the territory supports business development and skills creation:
- The Vice-President for Economic Development
- A company director who established a timber construction business on a former brownfield site in 2025
- A company director and a young apprentice sharing their experience of workplace-based training
This sequence highlighted how regeneration, entrepreneurship and vocational training reinforce each other within the local ecosystem.
2. Sustainable Development and Quality of Life
“Together, let’s create a greener, more innovative and more inclusive region.”
Here, elected representatives and local entrepreneurs demonstrated the coherence between economic attractiveness and ecological transition:
- Vice-President responsible for the Climate Plan and Ecological Transition
- Vice-President responsible for the Aquatic Centre and built heritage
- A rural brewery owner integrating ecological practices into her production
The message was clear: sustainability is not an add-on. It is embedded in local economic and social strategies.
3. Social and Societal Cohesion
“We do not endure change, we build it.”
This final sequence focused on solidarity, inclusion and community engagement:
- Vice-President for Solidarity and Health
- Representatives from the Intercommunal Centre for Social Action
- A local farmer combining business development with strong community involvement
Together, these contributions demonstrated how social cohesion, economic vitality and ecological transition are deeply interconnected.
Multiple Helix in Action
