LOUISVILLE.- From Physics to fast cars, from art to architecture, from Philosophy to film, from music to marketing – no topic is off limits at the IdeaFestival, in Louisville September 25-27. This world-class event attracts leading and highly diverse thinkers from around the globe to explore and celebrate innovation, imagination and cutting-edge ideas. Though IdeaFestival (IF) is similar to other events across the nation, its efforts to remain accessible make it the rare public event that offers people the opportunity to witness some of the greatest thinkers of the modern era. Tickets for the event can be purchased at www.ideafestival.com.

Founded in 2000, IF creates the future with ideas and breakthrough thinking. The Festival is designed to appeal to a broad cross-section of people, and accomplishes this feat with a number of high caliber speakers and presenters in a variety of fields, including science, the arts, design, business, film, technology, and education. Unlike other similarly themed events across the country, generous corporate support allows for a level of accessibility rarely seen at such events. Tickets are reasonably priced, with some events offered at no charge.

Several speakers are literally “ahead of their time” and are just beginning to make waves. Jane McGonigal, a game designer, future forecaster, and professor at UC Berkeley, is one of more than 30 presenters who plan to discuss their innovative ideas, products, and creative endeavors at this year’s IF. She is pioneering the use of massively-collaborative games to build communities that will improve the future and solve its problems. Her project, World Without Oil, is the first alternate reality game designed to solve real-world issues.

Richard Kogan has similarly devoted his career to solving global concerns using novel and revolutionary concepts, though his focus lies in medical and psychiatric ailments. A world class concert pianist and psychiatrist, Kogan has gained international renown for his groundbreaking work on the connections between music and healing.

And if anyone thinks juggling all these great ideas is a challenge, then they should go see Vovo Galchenko, considered the world’s greatest juggler, who views his craft more as an art form while traditionally it has been considered a novelty act.

In addition to thought-provoking speakers, IdeaFestival will include a number of ground-breaking events, such as the presentation of the first Curry Stone Design Prize, a $100,000 international prize administered by the University of Kentucky College of Design. Named for University of Kentucky alumnus Clifford Curry and his wife H. Delight Stone of Oregon, the award recognizes exceptional designers based on individual merit and the potential to bring their ideas to fruition. The prize focuses on emerging design ideas that contribute to the world community. The finalists were named on September 13 at the 11th International Venice Architectural Biennale. The winner will be announced on Thursday, September 25 at the IdeaFestival.

IdeaFestival started in Lexington in 2000 and moved to Louisville in 2006. Since then, attendance has gradually grown, and various satellite events such as a film series featuring movies that changed people’s lives and blindfolded dining events have extended the Festival’s reach beyond a once a year event.

According to Mayor Jerry Abramson, IdeaFestival makes perfect sense in Louisville. "Louisville is a city of big ideas,” he said. “And nothing embodies that more than Idea Festival.”

IdeaFestival will also include two major food-related events. The Main Course @ IdeaFestival will consist of a large outdoor dining event on Louisville’s Main Street with locally grown food and produce served by nearby farms. Also, the popular Taste of Innovation event promises to gather area chefs and restaurants to explore the latest trends in food technology and more.

New this year is IdeaKentucky, taking place before the official beginning of IdeaFestival on Wednesday, September 24. With a kick-off from Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear, the event will harness the objectives and energy of IdeaFestival – with a unique emphasis on innovation in Kentucky.

“Though the speakers and presenters may be diverse in their ideas and areas of expertise, all embrace IdeaFestival’s primary goal -- to promote creative thinking by the masses,” said Kris Kimel, founder of IdeaFestival. “In today’s global economy, innovation is the key to education, success and making the world a better place. And it starts right here in Kentucky at IdeaFestival.”

Founded in 2000, the IdeaFestival (IF) is a world-class event that attracts leading and highly diverse thinkers from across the nation and around the globe to explore and celebrate innovation, imagination and cutting-edge ideas. The IdeaFestival is a unique non-linear program designed to discuss and "connect" important ideas in science, the arts, design, business, film, technology, education, etc. Presenters are selected for their ideas, achievements, and their ability to communicate to a wideranging audience. Because the answers are everywhere, IF promotes out-of-the-box thinking and crossfertilization of knowledge as a means toward the development of innovative ideas, products and creative endeavors. Creative people, organizations and companies understand that breakthroughs and transformational innovation require a mix of ideas and perspectives as well as the ability to successfully integrate and translate diverse knowledge. The IdeaFestival occupies a unique space by providing a stage on which to explore innovation, and cutting-edge ideas across a range of fields... as well as the strategic tools needed to "see", synthesize and apply this knowledge in dynamic new ways.