Marketplace is a method that consists of sharing the actions, reflections, and questions encountered by different groups. Useful for giving back the same level of information to everyone, it creates dynamic dialogue space between participants which promotes a cross-cutting and creative approach.
“Stands” (represented by a table or a desk for example), that are placed far enough apart for the conversation of one group not to disturb that of another
As facilitator, you assign each working group a space that represents its “stand”: this is where it will present its work to the other marketplace participants.
Preparation time (20 minutes)
Each subgroup organises the presentation of its work, understanding that in each group:
some members will stay at the stand to present the completed work/project to the other participants who come to find out about it
the rest of the group will circulate around the other stands to learn about the other projects.
Rotations (10 minutes each)
The marketplace participants listen to the presentation of the stand where they are, then at the end of the 10 minutes they move on to another stand.
Free time (20 to 40 minutes)
When there have been enough rotations for each group to be able to share its presentation with the participants, leave some free time for them to go and ask questions, make suggestions add to or even join up as a contributor to the projects that have spoken to them the most.
Debrief: it may be useful to add a concluding plenary session to formalise some of the contributions and to take stock of the session with the participants.
Depending on the complexity of the topics, it may be important for groups to prepare more or less elaborate materials for the presentations ahead of the event.
Marketplace is often used as an introduction to a seminar or a series of seminars, but you can also use it to follow a first session such as a World Café or an Open Forum.