About AR+ Protainer and Sociocracy

AR+ Foundation is a registered not-for-profit corporation (501.3.c.) 


It was founded in 2008 by Hilary Bradbury using seed capital provided by royalties for the Handbooks of Action Research.  We started out as a grantmaker to those doing change work. In 2010 the Action Research journal needed a webspace for its blog.  AR+ provided that...and since then it's been another channel for making ARJ available as part of our larger mission to share action research resources.

Since 2016 AR+ has expanded with institutionally supported co-stewards, to offer curated resources and community of practice/inquiry. 



Our aim is to make global knowledge democracy more available by supporting inter/transdisciplinary dialogue and connectivity for those practicing at the developmental edge of action research worldwide.

We hope especially that more people may benefit from practicing Action-oriented Research for Transformation at this time of social-ecological challenge.

At AR+ we believe that learning and development, including our own, provides a key opportunity for co-creating the world we want and need at this time.

We believe we can accomplish more together than we can alone, especially if we practice with mutually transforming power.

Wherever you are on your ART journey, we invite you to join in!


AR+ is a protainer.

Key to our work is our emphasis on creating a relational space that is brave, if not always comfortable, for bringing ourselves to transformative learning. We are therefore protainer savvy, meaning we are sensitive to creating processes and conditions for learning in service to self and the larger challenges our global societies now face. The AR+ protainer offers a set of simple guidelines marked by an embrace of larger intention, respect for generative silence (mindfulness), speaking from the heart, our use of the arts, listening generously, participating constructively, hanging in when confidence is shaken, and… yes, enjoying ourselves! Check out this video clip to get a better understanding of how it's used, sometimes in passing, sometimes ritualistically, at the start of AR+ meetings.

AR+ is growing its sociocracy

Our edge seems to lie with experimenting with manifesting a sociocracy - that is, a kind of self-managing team process on steroids. Taking on some experiments in sociocracy feels like a next frontier to grow up independently and interdependently.

Sociocracy as self-managing is organic and life-enhancing. It helps in manifesting transformational synergy. The future that arises must be better (not worse!). Early experiments – prototypes – are promising (see below). 

For the founder and curator it means becoming – over time - a space-holder for your innovation within our system. The measure of this is welcoming and becoming more a co-participant. 

Organizing together is a next frontier.

A transition time can be perilous. But in its simplest expression here goes: When asked, Hilary, in her role as curator, will say "yes" to your innovation! She will share her perspective and ask that it is considered, but not necessarily adhered to. We all ask that you please be reasonable in organizing together for the future. Per current practice with the board, any project that wants money – requires approval of our fiduciary board.

Taking next steps:

Sociocracy needs ‘simple rules.’ Let’s use ones already familiar in our eco system:

  • Engage as a prosumer, different from a consumer (as a protainer relates to a container?);
  • Find a “win-win” contribution that meets one’s own need while feeding others;
  • Understand that there must be give and take.
  • Explore creative ideas for agency with others affected before moving to co-action.
  • Use ARTs metamodel of 3 spaces (relational conceptual and experimental) and 7 quality choice points as design guides.
  • Adopt and refer to the guidelines of the  AR+ protainer.
  • Have fun!

Prototypes are promising.

Some of you have started to invite new members. Thank you. Some of have shaped and are shaping our Gatherings, our coLABs and Sandboxes – as designers and facilitators – in ways that bring more talents and gifts to our experimental community.  Fantastic. We'll figure it out and learn as we do so.


Donations are welcome and very much needed. 
Your donation is tax deductible in the USA.