A powerful way to gather community, inspire change, and showcase practical solutions.
An awesome watercooler with
Herman Gyr, Lisa Friedman, David Michaelis, Ivan Kaye, Cissy Ma , Jamie Van Lersel (Lismore City Council) and Joseph Hoang Luu (KPMG)
Engaging local government support is a fantastic strategy for any large-scale event.
Underwriting by the Lismore town council would indeed bring a multitude of benefits, and can pave the way for a successful, socially impactful festival. Here's how you might incorporate these thoughts into your festival planning:
**1. Exposure:**
The festival would shine a global spotlight on Lismore, drawing attention to its resilience, its community spirit, and its commitment to environmental sustainability. This positive exposure could attract further investment, tourism, and development for the city.
**2. Building a city of the future:**
The festival can be designed to showcase forward-thinking solutions to climate change and sustainable urban development. This includes not only the concepts discussed during the festival, but also the festival infrastructure itself (such as showcasing 3D printed homes). This positions Lismore as a leader in creating sustainable, resilient cities of the future.
**3. Part of global innovation:**
With the involvement of experts and innovators from around the world, Lismore would become part of the global conversation around climate resilience and sustainability. This could bring more opportunities for collaboration and learning with leading experts and institutions in the field.
**4. Funding for projects:**
Through fundraising and revenue from the festival, money can be funneled back into local projects. This could help fund new sustainable initiatives, support local businesses, and stimulate the local economy.
**5. Building up the indigenous population - importance of land:**
This festival can also highlight the crucial role and knowledge of indigenous populations in sustainable land management. Involving local indigenous communities in planning and delivering the festival would further emphasize this point and provide opportunities for cultural exchange and understanding.
**6. Destination event:**
The festival can be designed to attract visitors from around Australia and potentially worldwide. As a destination event, it would bring significant economic benefits to Lismore through increased tourism.
**7. And so much more:**
From educational opportunities to community building, the benefits of such a festival are vast. This event can serve as a platform for community engagement, education, and empowerment.
Remember, gaining the support of the town council would likely require a well-structured proposal demonstrating these benefits and providing a clear plan for how the festival will be organized and funded.
Theme
- Areas: The festival could be divided into theme areas, such as renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, resilient infrastructure, climate justice, and more. Each area could feature exhibitions, interactive demonstrations, and workshops related ti it’s theme
- 3D-Printed
- Homes: This could be a central exhibit, with the construction process showcased live during the festival. Attendees could tour finished homes, and experts could be on hand to explain the benefits of these sustainable, resilient structures.
- Speaker Series: Host daily talks by climate scientists, policy makers, entrepreneurs, and activists. These could be both informative presentations and interactive discussions, offering festival-goers the chance to learn and ask questions.
- Music & Art: Organize performances by musicians who are passionate about climate change. Also, invite artists to create installations related to the festival's theme, potentially using recycled or sustainable materials
- Innovation Hub: A space for startups and inventors to showcase their climate-friendly products and technologies. This could include a pitch competition for the most promising innovations.
- Local Community Showcase: Highlight local businesses and organizations that are working toward climate resilience. This could include local farmers, renewable energy companies, conservation groups, and more.
- Children's Area: Offer hands-on activities for children, such as planting seeds, creating art from recycled materials, and participating in interactive games that teach about climate change.
- Sustainable Food Court: Showcase local, organic, and plant-based food vendors. This could also serve as an opportunity to educate attendees about the impact of food choices on the environment.
- Zero-Waste Policy: Make the festival as sustainable as possible. Use renewable energy sources, ensure recycling and composting facilities are available, and encourage attendees to bring reusable water bottles and utensils.
- Community Action Pledges: Encourage attendees to make pledges for actions they'll take to combat climate change. This could be displayed on a "pledge wall" at the festival.
- Virtual Access: For those who can't attend in person, consider live-streaming events and creating a virtual tour of the festival.
The goal of the festival would be to create a sense of community around the urgent need for action, provide tangible examples of resilient living, and inspire attendees to become active participants in the fight against climate change.