Festival of Ideas
June – December
The Festival of Ideas will develop as an on- and off-line series of events to bring to the fore the best social innovations Europe has to offer. 10 cross-cutting themes will be presented to Europe’s citizens using private, public and third sector networks, as well as online websites. Hundreds of people, each one with different background and expertise, will submit ideas that will make Europe and the world a better place. The most promising ones will be developed through an online project collaboration platform. The process will culminate with 10 conferences in 10 European cities, each focusing on a different theme. An 11th event will capture the learning from the process to present policy recommendations to the Commission in the form of a People’s Manifesto that expresses how Europe can be more creative and innovative.
http://www.the-hub.net
http://www.research00.net
http://www.demos.co.uk
Serious Fun With Creative Thinking
It's 2009 - European Year of Creativity and Innovation! In this introductory workshop, participants will learn about effective thinking, and play with some of the tools invented by creative thinking guru Dr Edward de Bono.
When?
10h30 Workshop – August 2009: 7-17, 21-31
14h00 Workshop – August 2009: 7, 10, 12, 14, 17, 21, 24, 26, 28, 31
Duration of all workshops: ~ 1 ¼ hr (including time for tea, coffee, and discussion)
Where?
1 Clarence Street, Edinburgh EH3 5AE, United Kingdom
What’s happening?
Philip Oliver from Spiralbridge and Master De Bono Trainer Stuart Scott have designed a series of 32 introductory workshops which highlight both the fun and serious aspects of creativity. In particular, the workshops will demonstrate how simple thinking tools and techniques can go a long way to improving the quality of communication and effectiveness of thinking tasks in everyday life – at home and in business.
Why attend?
- Learn and practice ‘creativity on demand’ and ‘parallel thinking’ – simple thinking techniques with high impact;
- Speak to some of UK and Europe’s leading licensed practitioners of De Bono thinking systems;
- Meet like-minded advocates of more effective communication and better quality thinking;
- Qualify for significant discounts on certified De Bono and related training courses in Europe and UK.
Who will be there?
An international community of Edinburgh & Fringe Festival-goers, amongst them representatives from:
- Government and local authorities
- Business (including consultancies)
- Financial services
- Design, Literature & Arts community
- Education (colleges, universities)
PLUS: Participants will be eligible for valuable give-away’s and exclusive discounts on any of the 1 or 2-day training in thinking skills or problem solving.
Enquiries & requests for complimentary tickets: contact@spirabridge.eu
Bookings through: www.edfringe.com (from 15 June 10am)
’Imagine a New World’ Photography Competition
Deadline: 31st August
The Commission are running a photography competition called 'Imagine a new world' (http://www.imagine2009.eu/4.0.html). This competition is in line with the 'European year of innovation and Creativity' which aims to raise awareness of the importance of creativity and innovation and how they contribute to our personal, social and economic development. Participants are asked to submit 2-4 images that are related to the theme 'Imagine a new world' regardless of their age, sex, or nationality (officials and other persons employed by the European Institutions – including the Agencies – and their families are not eligible to participate to the competition). Prizes are:
The first prize is a camera or photographic equipment of a value not exceeding €5,000 and a trip to Stockholm to the closing ceremony of the European Year of Creativity and Innovation 2009.
The second prize is a camera or photographic equipment of a value not exceeding €2,000 and a trip to Stockholm to the closing ceremony of the European Year of Creativity and Innovation 2009.
The third prize is a camera or photographic equipment of a value not exceeding €1,000 and a trip to Stockholm to the closing ceremony of the European Year of Creativity and Innovation 2009.
People’s Favourite Award Winner
The winner of the “People’s Favourite Award” will receive a digital camera or photographic equipment or photographic equipment of a value not exceeding €2,000 and a trip to Stockholm to the closing ceremony of the European Year of Creativity and Innovation 2009.
Additionally, the Jury-selected prize winners and the winner of the “People's Favourite Award”, will be invited to the official competition awards ceremony, which will take place in Brussels, Belgium in November 2009. At the ceremony they will meet high-ranking European personalities.
Details about how to enter are all available on the above link.
