Open Everything

What?

Each Open Everything event is different. Topics might include: open business models; running participatory events; the art, science and meaning of open; speedgeek case studies; community engagement; taking open source thinking beyond the tech world; open train wrecks (what went wrong?). What actually gets discussed on the day depends on who shows up, and what they're passionate about.

Where, and when?

There are two kinds of Open Everything conversation planned: a three day retreat in British Columbia and a series of events around the world. 

• Centre for Social Innovation, Toronto, Canada - finished - half day chat [wiki]
• University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa - August 22, 2008 - half day chat.
• Hollyhock, Cortes Island, British Columbia - September 3 - 6, 2008 - three day retreat [wiki]
• Lien Centre for Social Innovation, Singapore - September 15, 2008 - half day chat.
• Young Foundation, London, England - November 6, 2008 at the Roundhouse - full day event.
• newthinking store, Berlin, Germany - December 6, 2008 - full day event.
• openeverything.hk, Hong Kong SAR, China - December 6, 2008 - full day event.

Eventually, we hope different kinds of Open Everything will happen all over the place. The idea is for people to pick it up and morph it. The events above should be a good start.

Why?

Open is changing the game. And, while Wikipedia and open source software offer great examples of what's up, we know that openness, collaboration and participation are spreading well beyond the realm of technology. It's about value, and values. Where open is headed is huge. Open Everything gathers people who are charting this trajectory.

Who?

Many of us are mashing-up different kinds of open. Open source. Open space. Open orgware. Openness is at the core of our businesses, organizations and networks. Open Everything is for us and by us: it's about connecting and looking under the hood of each others' projects, seeing how they tick, when they work and where they break. It's a about learning how to do open better, together.

Get Involved

Discussion Mailing List - General questions and help planning Open Everything events worldwide.

Instigators

Mark Surman, Jason Mogus, David Eaves and Michael Lewkowitz starting kicking this idea around for Hollyhock in early 2008. Since then, Andrea Goetzke, Christian Ahlert, Helen King, Jonathan Gray, Philipp Schmidt, Sara Piteira, Sharifah Maisharah Binte Mohamed, Tonya Surman, Douglas Whitfield, Alnisa Allgood and John Britton have gotten involved in organizing local events. Organizations helping us to make it all happen include Centre for Social Innovation in Toronto, the Lien Centre for Social Innovation in Singapore, Non-Profit Tech and Open Madison Group (OMG!) in Madison, WI, New Thinking Network, the Open Knowledge Foundation, Renewal Partners, the Shuttleworth Foundation, the Social Innovation Exchange and Web of Change.