This sounds a lot like TED, only it’s a bit more laid back. It still has some great speakers, like the likes of Charles Leadbeater, George Ferguson and Baroness Susan Greenfield, however instead of TED’s jam-packed set of talks within 3 days, the Festival of Ideas occurs of a whole month in the City of Bristol and you get to pick and choose which talks you would like to attend and pay for those only. It works out a lot cheaper and accessible 
The Festival of Ideas returns to stimulate the minds and passions of the people of Bristol. Our fourth May festival addresses many issues including schisms in the Christian Church, the impact of globalisation, science today – a new partnership with Science City Bristol – fair trade (celebrating the Bristol Ethical Expo that takes place in Castle Park in May) and transition to a greener society, changing America, the media an truth, and what the world would be like without human beings. We also look back at the sixties and the legacy of idealism, assess the impact of the Iraqi surge and look at matters of the mind and alternative medicine.
Maybe Cape Town should have something like this? Something that brings together great minds, not only from the realm of technology, but from all facets of life, to talk about what they’re passionate about. Give people time to chew on the new information and concepts.
Maybe an evolution of the 27 Dinner? Rather than having a dinner on the 27th of every month, have 27 dinners during one month in the year with 2 or 3 specially themed talks per dinner (giving everyone some time to gather knowledge and wisdom to share). People can prebook (via wiki ) the dinners they wish to attend during the Cape Town Festival of Ideas or the Cape Town 27 Dinner Month.
What do you think?
Have you read these yet?
The Danger Zone called The Cape Town International Comedy Festival
An AddiCT makes the Sithengi Film Festival
Geekdinners to alternate in Jozi & Cape Town on the 27th of Each month
South Africa to host the 6th Science Centre World Congress in 2011
Ideas are like Air
I think something like this in Cape Town would be a great idea! Let’s hear what others think, we as CVP would probably like to get involved too, as great ideas are what we are looking for to get great businesses going.
Thanks Tony, I hope this catches on also. Give a reason for great minds abroad to come to Cape Town for extended periods of time. Definitlely a good thing in my books.