Winning an Oscar

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Artistic

‘Winning an Oscar’ is a creative visualisation exercise in which participants imagine receiving a prestigious award for their project and prepare an acceptance speech. This forward-thinking activity helps groups envision the journey of their project from inception to successful completion, define goals, recognise potential challenges and identify necessary resources - all before they have even started.

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Target group

Artists, activists, creative professionals, students, or any group like the participants of My Elections - My EU! starting a collaborative project

No. of pax

Min. 4 - max. 25 participants (can also work with larger groups if divided into subgroups of 4-6 people)

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Environment

Indoor space with sufficient room for small groups to work separately without disturbing each other; comfortable seating arranged in circles for each group. Online participation is also possible

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Time needed

60-90 minutes (15 minutes for introduction, 30-45 minutes for group work, 15-30 minutes for presentations)

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Materials

A large piece of paper or poster board for each group
Markers, pens, or pencils
Optional: mock award (could be a toy trophy or a handmade paper award)
Optional: podium or designated “stage” area for final presentations
Optional: a timer for monitoring the preparation and presentation

Objective/aim

Help participants envision the successful completion of their project
Identify the key elements required for project success
Clarify project objectives, messages, and intended impact
Build team cohesion through collaborative planning
Encourage creative thinking about potential challenges and solutions
Assemble the necessary resources, collaborators, and support networks

Step by step instructions

Step 1

Introduction
15 minutes
• Explain the concept: Participants will imagine receiving a prestigious award for their completed project
• Describe what makes a good acceptance speech (gratitude, acknowledging challenges, sharing impact)

Step 2

Group Formation
5 minutes
• Divide participants into small groups of 4-6 people
• If they already have project groups, use them

Step 3

Speech Planning
30-40 minutes
• Groups discuss and plan their acceptance speech
• They should address:
• Project inspiration and origin of their story
• Main message and goals
• The problem or issue addressed
• Challenges faced and how they were overcome
• Key discoveries made during the process
• People and resources that were essential for the success
• The project’s impact and ideal outcome
• Groups should write out key points or a full script

Step 4

Speech Delivery
25-40 minutes
• Ideally, everyone takes part in presenting the speeches
• Groups present their acceptance speeches (5-10 minutes for each group including a buffer time for logistics – depends on number of groups)
• Optional: A mock award to be handed over to the speakers to intensify the feeling of completing the project successfully

Step 5

Reflection
10 minutes
• Discuss how this exercise helps reveals what is important for their project
• Identify concrete steps they can now take based on their future vision

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Tips for the trainer

Encourage participants to be specific rather than general in their speeches
Recommend participants to select from a range of the topics to choose the one that was the most important for them, or the one they believe is crucial for the successful completion of the project
Remind groups to balance ambition with realism in their project vision
If working with shy participants, emphasise that the activity is about planning, not performance
For groups struggling with the concept, provide a template with questions or guiding phrases
Keep the atmosphere playful and celebratory, not competitive
Take notes during presentations to highlight valuable insights during reflection

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Alternative

For online implementation, use breakout rooms for group discussions and shared digital documents for collaborative writing
For individual projects, participants can write personal acceptance speeches and share them in pairs
Film the speeches as time capsules to revisit at the end of the project.

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Comment

This exercise is particularly effective at the beginning of long-term projects as it creates a shared vision and helps identify potential challenges before they arise. It also infuses the planning process with positive energy by focusing on success rather than obstacles. Participants often report that by imagining success in detail, they become more motivated and develop clearer pathways to achieve their goals.

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