Maria Laanjarv

Opinion Festival / Arvamusfestival

The aim of the Opinion Festival in Estonia is to provide an open platform for discussion on society and culture, without any political bias. This is a self-evolving community-wide festival open to everyone. We want alert and active people to discuss issues that are important to them and to Estonia in general. On 2018 Opinion Festival will be held for the 6th time and on August 10th and 11th in Paide, Estonia. 'Community-wide' means that the festival welcomes representatives and interest groups from all walks of life. ‘Self-evolving' means that those organisations and associations bringing issues to the table to be discussed do so using their own resources. ‘Open to everyone' means that anyone interested in sharing his or her ideas is welcome to take part. It also means that the festival is free of charge for participants, with the initiators of discussions organising everything. The festival will give the opportunity to hear inspiring speeches, exchange opinions about social and political issues, gain new knowledge and fresh ideas, participate in workshops, meet new people and enjoy a wide-ranging social programme. We want to: • bring people together from all sectors of the society, from all corners of Estonia, including from political and non-political institutions; • give the participants the opportunity to discuss issues that are vital to the present and the future of Estonia – something usually done behind the closed doors of conference rooms; • create a platform for people to exchange opinions regardless of their position or title; • leave visitors motivated with a sense of inspiration and the desire to return the following year. The Opinion Festival was inspired by the soon 50-year-old Almedalsveckan festival in Sweden, as well as other similar events in Finland, Norway and Denmark and was held for the first time in Estonia in 2013.