The first Idea Festival debuted in 2000 and started a pretty cool little gathering of extraordinarily diverse thinkers, movers, and shakers that have very little in common save for their ability to get outside the realm of normality.
Louisville.com as an entity didn't really catch the wave until last year when several of us picked from among the dozens of presentations to attend and blog on. In 2009, we'll be doing more of the same. We can't cover every single event, but we're picking what we think are the highlights and will give our impressions here.
If Idea Festival and its concept are new to you, here is an excerpt from the official press release that can give you a better glimpse into what to expect:
Change is one thing, innovation is another. IdeaFestival 2009, a world-class event that attracts leading and highly diverse thinkers from around the globe to explore and celebrate innovation, imagination and cutting-edge ideas is coming to Louisville from September 23rd – 26th. Multiple venues will showcase, discuss and "connect" important ideas in science, the arts, design, business, film, technology, education, etc.
Founded in 2000, IF creates the future with ideas and breakthrough thinking, which often emerge from and at the intersections of different fields. The Festival is designed to appeal to a broad cross-section of people - with over 40 presenters selected for their ideas, achievements, and their ability to communicate to a wide-ranging audience. This year’s speakers, to name a few, include Anthony Bourdain, A.J. Jacobs and Richard Kogan.
Of course, Bourdain is the most well known of the names on the list and we'll make sure that foodies all over Louisville who can't attend get a recap of what goes on.
But in true Idea Festival fashion, there is an unbelievable smorgasbord of diverse topics, speakers, and events (we're big fans of the IF Kids idea at the Science Center) to get anybody involved in this centerpiece event for our city.
General Information is toll free at 866-966-4607 or at 502-966-4607
for the Louisville vicinity. Get tons more information about the event (including the full lineup) go to
www.ideafestival.com.
