Do you have an innovative idea, social initiative, or art project that can contribute to making the festival industry more resilient in terms of sustainability and social responsibility? We invite you to test your project to a large audience at DGTL!
Testing at DGTL and Oerol
DGTL, Revolution Foundation, Oerol, and Innofest have joined forces to support 7 innovative companies, social projects, and students from across the Netherlands in setting up a test case at DGTL and Oerol. Together, we aim to explore innovations, initiatives, and art projects that can revolutionize the festival experience and creative sector positively.
The festival landscape is ever-changing and there is a loud call from society for a more sustainable, inclusive and diverse society and festival industry. We must take collective responsibility for sustaining this political discourse, incorporating it onto the dancefloor and rebuilding meaningful links between music and making a positive impact.
We aim to create an environment where peoples worldviews are tickled and challenged in an inviting manner, without compromising on unheard voices that are uncompromisingly part of the culture. We are therefore looking for innovative ideas of all sorts that add to making the festival industry more resilient in terms of sustainability and social responsibility.
Funding and support
Selected participants will receive a test budget to partially cover production costs, along with a development budget. To apply, submit a concise project plan (max. one A4 page) that includes a budget to Elisha at elisha@innofest.co. We intend to allocate the 16,000 euros budget among four innovations, providing a maximum budget of 4,000 euros, including VAT, per innovation.
Beyond festival grounds
We are interested in ideas that can be tested both within and outside the festival grounds. This could involve the surrounding areas of the festivals, the pathways visitors take, or even the festival’s online environment.
The program
Selected participants will undergo a series of three workshops called Innolessons, where the test cases will be developed step by step. Each participant will have two testing opportunities: one during DGTL (October 19/20, 2023, or March 29-31, 2024) and one during Oerol (June 7-16, 2024). Personal guidance from a test expert will be provided to ensure optimal test results. After the festival tests, an evaluation workshop will be conducted, where participants can reflect on the outcomes and discuss future steps for improving their prototypes whilst using the gathered data.
These tests are made possible by the Creative Industries Fund NL and CLICKNL.
Why is testing so important?
Assumption is the mother of all fuck-ups. That’s why Innofest strongly believes in the importance of testing. Nine out of ten innovations fail because a prototype is insufficiently tested before it goes to market. This costs entrepreneurs a lot of time, money, and energy. Innofest helps sustainable and social entrepreneurs and initiators design an effective test and connects them with test locations as close to reality as possible, such as festivals. By improving their product or service based on the gathered data, entrepreneurs can ultimately increase their impact.
Does this sound like something for you? Apply before December 11, and you might be selected!
Contact Benthe at benthe@innofest.co for any questions you have. You can find more information here.