About TEDxArendal

First off… let’s talk about TED and TEDx

TED – Technology, Entertainment, Design

TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. The two annual TED Conferences invite the world’s leading thinkers and doers to speak for 18 minutes or less.

Many of these talks are made available, free, at TED.com.  TED speakers have included Bill Gates, Jane Goodall, sir Richard Branson, Philippe Starck, and Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

Other TED initiatives

Starting as a four-day conference in California 30 years ago, TED has grown to support its mission with multiple initiatives.

  • TED.com, where new TED Talks are posted daily
  • TED Translators, which provides subtitles and interactive transcripts as well as translations from volunteers worldwide
  • the educational initiative TED-Ed
  • the Audacious Project, which takes a collaborative approach to fund ideas with the potential to create change at a thrilling scale
  • TEDx, which supports individuals or groups in hosting local, self-organized TED-style events around the world
  • the TED Fellows program, helping world-changing innovators from around the globe to amplify the impact of their remarkable projects and activities
TED illus

x = independently organized event

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TED Talks videos and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.

And then, let’s talk about TEDxArendal!

Vil du helst lese denne teksten på norsk? Klikk her eller scroll litt ned.

TEDxArendal originates in the “Kunnskapshavna” coworking space for tech companies, with Arendal Municipality as the spearhead. It was organized for the first time in 2013 and is now carried out annually on the first Friday in November. Since then, the event has grown thanks to a unique commitment of fantastic volunteers, sponsors and partners. In recent years, there has been a 12-hour surprise package where the public is served new ideas during an inspiring and entertaining day. The day is topped off with creative features that engage all the senses – and much of the city centre.

The fact that this is an English-language event makes Arendal attractive as a host. There are many English speakers who are both participants and who volunteers in the organizing of the event. Arendal municipality’s business department – which holds the license agreement with TED – sees the value in this for the region.

TEDx is about spreading good ideas. We aim to bring the world to Arendal and Agder, and not just Arendal to the world. The audience varies from folk high school students to senior managers, and the breadth of topics provides a different experience to other conferences.

Because words don’t have to remain just words. Words can turn into action. Ideas spread. And new insights are communicated in an engaging way. About topics you didn’t even know you wanted to gain insight into.

Om TEDxArendal

(In English above)

TEDxArendal har sitt opphav og utspring i Sørlandet Kunnskapshavn og vekstmiljøet for kunnskapsbedrifter, med Arendal Kommune som spydspiss. Siden har arrangementet vokst takket være et unikt engasjement av fantastiske frivillige, sponsorer og samarbeidspartnere. Det ble arrangert første gang i 2013 og gjennomføres nå årlig, første fredag i november. De siste årene har det vært et 12-timers forundringspakke der publikum får servert nye ideer i løpet av en inspirerende og underholdende dag. Dagen toppes med kreative innslag som tar alle sanser – og gjerne hele byen – i bruk.

Alle foredrag er på engelsk, fordi de blir spilt inn og publisert på TEDs YouTube-kanal i etterkant. At dette er et engelskspråklig arrangement gir også Arendal vertskapsattraktivitet. Det er mange engelsktalende som både er deltagere og frivillig med og arrangerer det, og Arendal kommunes næringsavdeling – som innehar lisensavtalen med TED – ser verdien i dette for regionen.

TEDx handler om å spre de gode ideene. Vi skal bringe verden til Arendal og Agder, og ikke bare Arendal ut i verden. Publikum varierer fra folkehøyskoleelever til toppledere, og bredden i temaene gir en annen opplevelse enn andre konferanser.

For ord trenger ikke kun forbli ord. Ord kan bli til handling. Ideer spres. Og ny innsikt blir formidlet på en engasjerende måte. Om temaer du ikke visste du ville få innsikt i.

Les også artikkelen The TEDx Experience (norsk tekst)

Meet our management

Although our volunteers are our pride and joy, knowing who runs this event is important too. Meet our management!

Linn Juul-Petersen

Linn Juul-Petersen

Event organizer

Erik B. Nilsen

Erik B. Nilsen

Co Organizer

Our executive committee

Our executive commitee includes our management and some of our partners who together functions as a board of directors. They oversee our event so that each TEDxArendal is as unique and inspiring as the last.

Didrik Rannekleiv

Didrik Rannekleiv

Sparebanken Sør

Bjørnar Larsen

Bjørnar Larsen

DNB

Sissel Rogne

Havforskningsinstituttet

Geir Arntzen Andrew

Geir Arntzen Andrew

Frameworks

Gøril Hannås

UiA

Jeanne Mette Goderstad

SSHF

Robert C. Nordli

Robert C. Nordli

Arendal kommune

Anne Cathrine Haugland

Anne Cathrine Haugland

Arendal kommune

Our concept team

TEDxArendal is more than just the TEDtalks. Our concept team is responsible for giving you, as an attendee, an experience from the moment you walk through the door, and be fully immersed in TEDx during the entire event.

Grete

Grete

Mira Mare

Thomas

Thomas

Kongsberg Gruppen

Dag

Dag

D3

Brit Maria

Brit Maria

Arendal kommune

Shiuan-Yi

Shiuan-Yi

Gard

Mona

Mona

Mona Hauglid Foto

Birgit

Birgit

Asplan Viak

Franka

Franka

Franke Fleckenstein

Tove

Tove

Tove Hardaway

Our program committee

The employees and volunteers in our program committee decides which topics are to be presented during TEDxArendal.
Each year they narrow down a list of candidates to decide this years ideas that are worth spreading.

Erik

Erik

Arendal kommune

Tonje

Tonje

Egde

Parvaneh

Parvaneh

UiA

Ståle

Ståle

Innoventi

Alireza

Alireza

Nøsted &

Alf

Alf

MyOnvent

Fredrik

Fredrik

Uveil

Jon

Jon

Jonensor.com

Our presenters

Our presenters string together the event, introducing speakers and relaying information during TEDxArendal. They are our organizations face outwards for the attendees.

Simon Cole

Simon Cole

Yvonne Neilson

Yvonne Neilson

Danait Haile

Danait Haile

All portraits on this page were taken by Mona Hauglid – a member of the concept team and also one of our event photographers.