Opinion Festival

Goal:   improve debate culture and civic education 

Timeframe:  one/two days a year  

Type of participants:government and non-governmental organizations, cultural figures, entrepreneurs, universities, journalists, citizens 

 

 

WHAT IS IT?

The Opinion Festival is one of few places where people from government and non-governmental organizations, cultural figures, entrepreneurs, universities, journalists, citizens come together. Every public group has their own communication platforms and meeting places. In the Opinion Festival it is possibile to meet face to face to share topics and point of views and to find better understanding of each other. 

The festival thrives on a decentralized structure: public discussions on a broad range of topics, from national security to health to social innovation, are suggested and run by people and organizations following a open call for ideas each spring. 

 

HOW TO

Ideas can be sent by organizations, groups of people or individuals. If an organization’s suggested topic is successful and accepted into the festival programme, it is that organization who is responsible for and sets up the discussion about that topic. The Festival team, made up of volunteers , manages the final programme and supports the organizations with the necessary know-how.  

  • The primary goal of an Opinion Festival is to foster open dialogue on important societal issues and improve debate culture. Define your specific objectives for the event, such as promoting civic education or bringing together diverse groups for meaningful discussions 
  • Choose a location and dateSelect a suitable venue that can accommodate multiple discussion areas and a large number of participants. Opinion Festivals typically run for 2-3 days 
  • Program Development 
  • Open call for ideas: Invite organizations, groups, and individuals to submit discussion topics 
  • Curate the program: Evaluate and group similar topics into themed stages 
  • Ensure diversity: Include a wide range of topics and perspectives to attract a broad audience 
  • Invite participants and speakersReach out to community leaders, experts, politicians, and citizens from various backgrounds to participate in discussions 
  • Document and shareRecord discussions for later viewing and listening. Make these resources freely available to extend the impact of the festival 
  • Gather feedback and evaluateCollect feedback from participants and organizers to improve future editions of the festival