Between June 9 and June 11, Aspen Institute Romania organizes in Sibiu the first edition of Aspen Ideas, in partnership with the Sibiu International Theater Festival. The event is proudly supported by UniCredit Bank. Aspen Ideas is part of a series of events organized by Aspen Institute Romania for celebrating 10 years of activity.

Aspen Ideas is an event dedicated to exploring innovative ideas and transformative processes that shape contemporary society. The focus is on the improvement of the quality of life, as well as environmental, community and civic sustainability of emergent societal and business models.

The concept of an Ideas Festival is among the most provocative approaches developed by the Aspen Institute US, together with The Atlantic magazine. Via effervescent discussions, the event steps beyond the logic of a conference and becomes, for three days an immersion experience for ideas and solutions. In Sibiu, as in Aspen Colorado, the Ideas Festival’s off stage experience is an integral part of the concept. The organizers challenge the participants to explore areas that are not familiar to them, but which influence their existence, their style of work and the way in which their life is about to change.

For Sibiu, Aspen Romania proposes a fusion between the methodology tested by the Colorado festival in the past 10 years by Aspen Ideas Festival and another intellectual product of the Aspen Institute US, the Aspen Action Forum. This component is dedicated to ideas applied by young leaders from the Aspen international network in business projects, community projects or social projects that have transformative impact.

The Sibiu Aspen Ideas Festival serves as an intersection between four dimensions of debate. They were chosen from those that have both high innovative potential and hold the promise of generating durable changes in Romania and the region, in regards to living standards, quality of governance and the way in which prosperity is generated. The festival brings to the public leaders of ideas, international experts, members of the Aspen Network involved in arts and culture, creative industries, medicine, nutrition and lifestyle, activists from the civil society, representatives from the academic environment and explorers of new transformative technologies both for business and for democratic solutions in a interconnected world.

Main themes:
Creative Industries, Arts and Identity
Science, Healthcare and Education for The Good Life
Democracy 4.0: Active Citizenship, Community and National Service
Skills and Technology in a Connected Society

Registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/aspen-ideas-sibiu-registration-25025515992

A shuttle bus is available from Radu Stanca National Teatre to Fabrica de Cultura from 30 to 30 minutes as follows:

  • Thursday: first bus leaves from Radu Stanca National Theatre at 13:30 and the last one at 18:00 / departure from Fabrica de Cultura – last bus leaves at 20:30
  • Friday: first bus leaves from Radu Stanca National Theatre at 10:30 and the last one at 20:00 / departure from Fabrica de Cultura – last bus leaves at 00:30
  • Saturday: first bus leaves from Radu Stanca National Theatre at 10:30 and the last one at 12:30 / departure from Fabrica de Cultura – last bus leaves at 13:30

We will have an information desk in the main lobby of the Continental Forum Sibiu Hotel.
The dress code for the entire event is smart casual.

Proudly supported by: UniCredit Bank
In Partnership with: SibFest – Sibiu International Theatre Festival
Sponsors: Publicis Romania, Pehart Tec Grup, Enevo Group, Domeniile Samburesti, Aqua Carpatica, Frudisiac, Ursus Breweries
Main Media Partners: AGERPRES, RFI Romania
Local Media Partner: Turnul Sfatului

 

Agenda

Thursday, June 9

14:30 – 15:15

Opening conversation: Ideas on the Stage (Fabrica de Cultura, Sibiu)
•    Constantin Chiriac, General Director, “Radu Stanca” National Theatre and  President, SibFest – Sibiu International Theatre Festival
•    Anca Nuta, First Vice President, Identity and Communication Director, UniCredit Bank, Aspen Fellow
•    Mircea Geoana, President, Aspen Institute Romania
Moderator: Madalina Mocan, Associate Teaching Assistant, Babeş-Bolyai University

15:15 – 16:10

1.  Creative Industries, Arts and Identity: Cultural Patrimony as Development Asset (Fabrica de Cultura, Sibiu)
•    Caroline Fernolend, Vice President, Mihai Eminescu Trust
•    Vintila Mihailescu, Professor of Anthropology, National School of Political and Administrative Studies
Moderator: Andrei Tarnea, Executive Director, Aspen Institute Romania

16:15 – 17:15

2.  Science, Healthcare and Education for The Good Life (Fabrica de Cultura, Sibiu)
•    Larisa Petrini, Corporate Wellbeing Strategist, Co-founder & CEO, reLife
•    Mihaela Geoana, President, Renasterea Foundation
Moderator: Andrei Tarnea, Executive Director, Aspen Institute Romania

17:30 – 18:30

3.  Democracy 4.0: Active Citizenship, Community and National Service (Fabrica de Cultura, Sibiu)
•    Sam van der Staak, Head of Wider Europe program, International IDEA
•    Meelika Hirmo, Head of Public Relations & Communication, Let’s do it! World
•    Andrei Pungovschi, Photojournalist
Moderator: Andrei Tarnea, Executive Director, Aspen Institute Romania

18:45 – 19:30

4. Skills and Technology in a Connected Society: Financing and Investments in the Digital Sector (Fabrica de Cultura, Sibiu)
•    Matei Paun, Managing Partner, BAC Investments
•    Andrei Pogonaru, Partner, Central European Financial Services, Aspen Fellow
Moderator: Deborah Chen, Chairman of the Investment Committee, REP Partners, Aspen Fellow

20:30 – Dinner conversation

Friday, June 10

10:15 – 11:15

Breakfast session I: Trendsetting (Welt Kultur Cafe und Bar, Sibiu)
•    Irina Pogonaru, Founder, Photoliu
•    Mihai Panfil, Project Manager, Origo Coffee Shop
Moderator: Andrei Tarnea, Executive Director, Aspen Institute Romania

10:15 – 11:15

Breakfast session II: Sources and Forces in Contemporary Music (Cafe Wien, Sibiu)
•    Lucian Ban, Jazz Pianist, Composer, Artistic Director of Bucharest Jazz Festival (2012-2015)
•    Makcim Fernandez Samodaiev, Cellist-Soloist, Sibiu State Philarmonic
•    Sabina Ulubeanu, Composer, Artistic Director of InnerSound New Arts Festival
Moderator: Mihaela Dedeoglu, Producer of “Zebra”, RFI Romania

11:15 – 12:15

1.  Creative Industries, Arts and Identity: Beyond Style, an Emerging Ecosystem of Creativity (Fabrica de Cultura, Sibiu)
•    Mihai Gurei, Founder of Intro, Curator, Romanian Design Week
•    Razvan Luca, Architect, Zain
•    Dragos Motica, Creative Director, Ubikubi
•    Mihnea Ghildus, Founder, Dizainar
Moderator: Anca Nuta, First Vice President, Identity and Communication Director, UniCredit Bank, Aspen Fellow

12:15 – 13:15

2.  Science, Healthcare and Education for The Good Life: Pushing the Boundaries (Fabrica de Cultura, Sibiu)
•    Flavia Zant, Specialist in Medical Genetics, ESHRE certified embryologist, Columna Medical Center
•    Andras Kapy, CEO, Axosuits
•    Victor Costache, Medical Director, Polisano European Hospital, Sibiu
Moderator: Andrei Tarnea, Executive Director, Aspen Institute Romania

13:15 – 14:00

Lunch conversation: Communication and Society – The Case for Free Speech and the Need for an Activist Media (Fabrica de Cultura, Sibiu)
•    Laura Stefanut, Editor of Reviews and Analysis Section, Digi24.ro
•    Sorana Stanescu, Senior Journalist, Televiziunea Romana & Associate Editor, Decât o Revistă
Moderator: Maria Besnea, Personal Advisor to the Deputy Prime Minister, Ministry of Economy, Commerce and Business Environment, Aspen Fellow

14:00 – 15:00

1.  Creative Industries, Arts and Identity: Clichés, Identity and Narrative in Music and Film (Fabrica de Cultura, Sibiu)
•    Ada Condeescu, Actress
•    Lucian Ban, Jazz Pianist, Composer, Artistic Director of Bucharest Jazz Festival (2012-2015)
•    Catalin Mitulescu, Film Director, Strada Film
Moderator: Andrei Tarnea, Executive Director, Aspen Institute Romania

15:00 – 16:00

3.  Democracy 4.0: Active Citizenship, Community and National Service (Fabrica de Cultura, Sibiu)
•    Vlad Tausance, Designer and Facilitator Creative Fitness Studio, Artistic Director – Baia Mare 2021 European Capital of Culture – Candidate City
•    Matei Paun, Managing Partner, BAC Investments
Moderator: Alin Bittel, Regional Director for Eastern Europe & Israel, Scytl Innovating Democracy

16:15 – 17:15

4.  Skills and Technology in a Connected Society (Fabrica de Cultura, Sibiu)
•    Ion Sturza, Founder and Chairman, Fribourg Capital
•    Andrei Pogonaru, Partner, Central European Financial Services, Aspen Fellow
Moderator: Roxana Voicu-Dorobantu, Associate Professor, Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies, Aspen Fellow

17:15 – 18:15

2.  Science, Healthcare and Education for The Good Life: Media and Sustainability in a Connected World (Fabrica de Cultura, Sibiu)
•    Ada Roseti,  Channel Director, Discovery Central and Eastern Europe
Moderator: Sorana Stanescu, Senior Journalist, Televiziunea Romana & Associate Editor, Decât o Revistă

18:15 – 18:30 – Cofee break and stage up

18:30 – 20:30

Night Conversation and Musical Representation: Music – Instrument of  Identity (Fabrica de Cultura, Sibiu)
•    Mehdi Aminian, Founder and Coordinator, Roots Revival Romania
•    Florin Iordan, Manager, Trei Parale Band
Moderators: Dani Sandu, Sociologist, Aspen Fellow & Alexandra Stef, Editor in Chief, Marie!, Aspen Fellow

21:00 – 22:30

UEFA EURO 2016 – France-Romania Football game screening

22:30

Aspen Ideas Party – DJ Bogdan Asanovici (Fabrica de Cultura, Sibiu)

 

Saturday, June 11

10:15 – 11:15

Breakfast session I: Activist Art Consumer Society? (Welt Kultur Cafe und Bar, Sibiu)
•    Rarita Zbranca, Director, AltArt Foundation
•    Adrian Dan, Visual Artist and Curator
•    Razvan Luca, Architect, ZAIN
Moderator: Madalina Mocan, Associate Teaching Assistant, Babeș-Bolyai University, Aspen Fellow

10:15 – 11:15

Breakfast session II:  Gender, Storytelling and Memory in Arts (Cafe Wien, Sibiu)
•    Lia Perjovschi, Visual Artist
•    Adina Rosetti, Writer
•    Ioana Sisea, Visual Artist and Curator
Moderator: Andrei Tarnea, Executive Director, Aspen Institute Romania

11:30 – 12:30

1.  Conversation on Cultural Policy and Institution Building (Fabrica de Cultura, Sibiu)
•    Matei Visniec, Romanian-French playwright, Poet and Journalist
•    Joseph V. Melillo, Executive Producer, BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music)
Moderator: Cristina Modreanu, Theatre Critic and Journalist

12:30 – 13:30

2.  Conversation on European Capitals of Culture and Building Cultural Identity (Fabrica de Cultura, Sibiu)
•    Simona Neumann, Executive Director, Timisoara 2021- European Capital of Culture  – Candidate City
•    Anamaria Vrabie, Curatorium member, Bucuresti 2021 – European Capital of Culture – Candidate City, Aspen Fellow
•    Stefan Teisanu, Executive Director, Cluj-Napoca 2021 – European Capital of Culture – Candidate City, Entrepreneur, Fapte
•    Vlad Tausance,  Designer and Facilitator Creative Fitness Studio, Artistic Director – Baia Mare 2021 European Capital of Culture – Candidate City
•    Raluca Ciuta, Program Director, ARCUB & Bid Manager, Bucuresti 2021 – European Capital of Culture – Candidate City
Moderator: Alec Balasescu, Director of Research, Curation and Communication, Theatre of Fire & Curator, Nature Art and Habitat Residency, Tallegio Valley