Festival of Ideas launches the Bristol Genius Award for the Best Bristol Idea

Date posted: 23 February 12

Bristol Festival of Ideas and Bristol Cultural Development Partnership launch today (22 February) a call for ideas for the Bristol Genius Award. The award – for the best Bristol Idea - will be awarded each May as part of the annual Festival of Ideas.

Each year, Bristol Festival of Ideas runs the Bristol Genius series of events. Bristol Genius looks at the people and organisations working on breakthrough ideas in the city – ideas that have the potential to change thinking, living, working, eating, playing; that provide new business opportunities; and that can transform culture, the environment, justice and society.

Andrew Kelly, director of the festival, said today:

‘Bristol is a city that excels in ideas historically and now – but we sometimes don’t celebrate them enough. The great work that takes place on green initiatives, in health, education, in communities, in business, in our universities and cultural organisations – all this and more – has the potential to change lives for the better. We want to recognise this and provide a profile for great ideas through this new award.’

The award will be made to an idea currently in development or recently completed which originated in Bristol and/or was developed or is currently under development in the city.

The award will be made at the Bristol Festival of Ideas awards evening on 21 May at which the annual prize for the Best Book of Ideas will also be made. A shortlist of six ideas will be presented at the awards evening prior to the Bristol Genius Award being made. The timetable will run as follows:

23 February: call for submissions open
13 April: submission closing date
30 April: shortlist announced
To 21 May: promotion of shortlist
21 May: shortlisted ideas presentations and award

To nominate an idea send a 500 word summary to: ideas@businesswest.co.uk. Further details will be launched on www.ideasfestival.co.uk.