A City Portrait Canvas for Workshops
A workshop tool to evaluate strategies through the City Portrait’s ‘4 lenses’
Version 1.1 (March 2021)
* 下面也提供葡萄牙语（PDF) *
* Também disponível em português abaixo (PDF) *
Overview
The City Portrait Canvas is a workshop tool created by the Thriving Cities Initiative – a partnership between Doughnut Economics Action Lab, C40 Cities and Circle Economy. Changemakers can use this tool to foster big-picture thinking on how a particular city strategy may impact the world in which it is embedded, both socially and ecologically, locally and globally.
The Canvas is designed for strategic policy development and analysis in workshop settings. It applies the City Portrait’s ‘4 Lenses’ conceptual framework as a basis for participants to consider the many complex interconnections between a city’s local aspirations – to be thriving people in a thriving place – and its global responsibilities – to respect the wellbeing of all people and the health of the whole planet.
Why use it?
This is an easy-to-use and engaging workshop tool that is well-suited for small groups or breakout sessions (2–8 people per group) aiming to enhance the design of city strategies, policies and initiatives to meet 21st century challenges.
The tool is an integrated and ready-to-use set of resources (available as PDF in both A3 and A4 paper sizes) that includes:
- A blank ‘Canvas’ template of the 4 Lenses
- Step-by-step instructions
- Additional information and worksheets
Watch this 10-minute video for an illustrative example of how to use the City Portrait Canvas to create city strategies in a holistic way:
Acknowledgements
The City Portrait Canvas was created by Max Russell, Ilektra Kouloumpi, Vera Charniak, and Nicolas Raspail from Circle Economy, with contributions from Julia Lipton from C40, Kate Raworth and Andrew Fanning from DEAL.
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This tool is licensed under a Creative Commons BY SA 4.0 license. For full details visit our Licensing Rules. 
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Shaktari Belew
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I am a life-long learner. From a early background in computer systems, which gave me a whole-systems lens through which to approach the rest of my life, I've been an educator, author, artist, Transition movement trainer/contributor (since 2008), Permaculture instructor/designer, group facilitator, complementary currency designer, researcher, parent, grandparent. I love seeing through multiple lenses and points-of-view. I guess you could say I am a Whole-Systems, Biomimicry, "DANCING ON MY LEARNING EDGES" explorer ... contributing, connecting, and loving, with joy.
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A self-motivated big picture problem solver, always navigating between the tensions of facilitating the emergence of collective intention from diverse needs of community and efficiently managing the messiness arising from transformative changes in participatory manner.
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Boris Kaiser
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Steps that led me to become a circular economy ambassador include twelve years of figure skating, fifteen years drumming in a noise rock band, ten years of journalism, some marketing management and right now economic development work since 2018. Multi-dimensionally educated would describe me best. I am willing and able to transform my home area and city into a prospering region, ready for the 21st century. I do this with the help of the many talented people of Chemnitz. Want to join us here in the European Capital of Culture 2025?!
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As the co-initiator of Donut Berlin, I am passionate about co-creating regenerative and redistributive cities, and bringing Berlin into the Doughnut of social and planetary boundaries. I am a polymath, I love learning across the fields of systems thinking, human development, technology management, and sustainable business, and connecting ideas in ways that create long-term value for people and the environment. My experience as a scholar, speaker, founder, author, lecturer, consultant, and community manager has taken me to 30+ countries and reinforced my commitment to collaboration across national, cultural, and geographical divides. I'm currently looking for opportunities to share, spread, co-create, co-develop, and manifest Donut Berlin, and I am always happy to connect with inspiring people, so let's chat!
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Manuel Augusto Greco
