Sometimes I reflect on how fortunate I am to be living in a city like Louisville. No really, this is a truly amazing place. One reason is because the people here have a great appreciation for forward-thinking ideas and are willing to come out and support mind-expanding events like the Idea Festival.
The annual event was started in 2000, found a loving home here in Louisville in 2006, and with each new iteration brings a pantheon of world-renown diverse thinkers who speak on a variety of subjects including, physics, fine art, ecology and film.
Since moving to Louisville the Idea Festival has grown in popularity largely due to a diverse conceptual framework that has brought a smorgasbord of unique minds to give lectures, performances, and presentations during the three-day event that takes place each fall. This year is no exception, as the Idea Festival brings a rich diversity of visionaries to quench our thirst for knowledge and outside-the-box thinking. The great expanse of topics for this year is evidenced by the diversity of guests lined up to share, inform and enlighten.
One of the most notable guests for 2009 is Somaly Mam, a Cambodian Human Rights activist whose work is focused on bringing to light needs and problems that girls who have been victims of human sex trafficking face and creating positive change for those girls through her foundation. Her work has had a profound impact in brining awareness to this issue and provides a unique perspective on global activism.
Another highlight, MacArthur Foundation Genius Award recipient Will Allen, who is an urban farmer and the founder of Growing Power, Inc., brings his innovative ideas as a leader in the global cause of providing good, healthy food for all people. This speaker is particularly relevant because of Kentucky's growing local food economy and the issues that our community farmers face in the age of industrialized corporate farms where food quality is severely compromised.
If you are still hungry for more, Kitchen Confidential author and the Travel Channel's "No Reservations" host, Anthony Bourdain, is among the distinguished guests for this year's Idea Festival. I must admit I got a little touch of glee when I found out Bourdain would be coming to Louisville. I've had a long time appreciation for his dry wit, punk rock approach to life and his absolute devotion to experiencing food for both its cultural and sensual aesthetics. All adoration aside, Bourdain is only one of many reasons to get your passes early to this year's Idea Festival.
The future of the Idea Festival would appear to hold no limits for founder Kris Kimmel. He enthusiastically speaks of what is next in line to broaden our thinking and create an entity that continually builds on itself as the Idea Festival has. We can look forward to the event evolving into even a larger presence in the coming years. There are plans in the works for a European festival in 2010, as well as adding Louisville events to a year-long build up to the big festival. I'm already online getting my passes: www.ideafestival.com.