Can you bring Wikipedia on Stage?
When Wikipedia first started just 12 years ago, very few people believed that a Wiki - a website based on the content created not by certified professionals, but by volunteers - could compete with traditional encyclopedias. Today, Wikipedia is one of the most visited websites on the internet and provides free knowledge to millions of people every day.
Why bring Wikipedia on stage?
A considerable part of the inequalities in our societies could be addressed through education.
To those among us who enjoyed a good education, it might be natural to pick up a book or read an encyclopedia article - but this is not the reality for everybody. Millions of television viewers make it obvious how many of us naturally prefer seeing real people in video over reading text. If we truly
believe that education should reach many people, we need to present it in a way that makes it easy to access and reintroduce fun and enthusiasm into the learning experience.
When you bring experts on a Wiki Stage, you do exactly that. In a format of 6 or 12 minutes per talk, speakers or artists present one particular aspect of their passion in a way that captivates the audience. When these short speeches and performances are recorded on video - they can create a video library online with brief video clips on various disciplines.
A video encyclopedia is a huge project
It is not hard to imagine that the benefits of a video Wikipedia for our society would be potentially game changing - why doesn't it already exist? Popular websites, such as YouTube prove that the technology for a quality video library online is already there.
So why hasn’t one been created yet? If a public institution or a for-profit company were to launch such an initiative, the costs of creating a comprehensive video library could easily amount to
billions of euros. Such an institution would need to pay experts, studios, cameras, editors, etc., etc. - which means that it would not be financially viable to provide the videos online for free.
A Wiki community offline
The Wiki Spirit, that gathers volunteers online to collaborate towards a common objective, can work with real life events as well. Instead of centralizing the creation of the video content in one institution, a decentralized network of volunteer event organizers can not only bring a broad diversity of experts on stage - it will also allow people anywhere to actively participate in the collaborative effort of bringing the knowledge of the world on stage. When proactive people in universities, schools, museums and libraries take the initiative to set up their Wiki Stage - a new movement will be born.
What are Wiki Stage events?
On a Wiki Stage, you can, and you have to go beyond factual information. In 6 or 12 minutes, the presenter must get to the core of the idea quickly and entertain the paying audience. Beyond knowledge, a stage offers the possibility to showcase art and culture. When people passionate about learning work together towards a Wiki Stage event, the experience is very different from a traditional conference. In contrast to long and boring lectures, a Wiki Stage event creates a lively learning experience with ample opportunities for the audience to connect with the experts and exchange ideas.
The first event on March 30 at ESCP Europe
The Wiki Stage World Premiere will take place on March 30 at ESCP Europe. Tickets are now available on wikistage.org. Sudents 15€/ Regular 30€.
In a few words, this event is about Internet, Jazz, Economy, Theatre and more...
- One event
- 2 languages: English & French
- 6 or 12 minutes talks
- 16 speakers and performers
- 400 guests in the audience
- One community for free education in video!
International speakers
- Rony Brauman, Former President, Médecins Sans Frontières
- Nicolas Bouzou, SciencePo Paris, Economist
- Antoine Hervé, Composer, Jazz Artist
- Serge Soudoplato , Technologist & Author
- Philippe Gabilliet, Professor on Luck & Optimism
- Phil Waknell, Presentation Coach
- Paul Bourgine, Professor of Cognitive Science
- David Garell, Expert in Theatre Improvisation
- Jacques Birol, Entrepreneur & Author
- Gadzby, Guitarist & Singer
- Alexandre Pachulski, Talent Finder
- Idriss Aberkane, Knowledge & Gaming Expert
- Declan McCavana, Founder, French Debating Association
- Camil Kanouni, Singer & Songwriter
- Miguel Gonçalves, Portuguese Entrepreneur
and more…