Festivals of Ideas

Festivals of Ideas are productive innovation events which bring together the right people in the right way to address compelling social challenges and to grow innovation.

Festivals unite third sector innovators with commissioners and investors for one day in collaborative innovation. They develop new relationships, an accessible data set of local innovation and a clear list of action points for their development and growth. Festivals can also be an invaluable strategic intervention, helping local areas and regions to learn to understand in a specific area and develop responses.

Festivals of Ideas combine networking opportunities, ideas workshops and 'open space' sessions in which people self-organise around compelling work. However, a Festival is much more than just an event. It is preceded by the research and intelligence-gathering needed to ensure the event brings together the right people in the right way, and is followed by support to drive action.

Each Festival of Ideas is run in conjunction with a public sector partner around an issue that they are engaged in solving but to which they do not have all the answers. They provide a rare opportunity for commissioners and others to come together around public problems and fledgling solutions to make a difference together.

Click here to download more information on Festivals of Ideas.

Please click here for information on forthcoming Festivals of Ideas, including details on how to respond to the call for ideas.