In September 2014, the Social Innovation Exchange, Collaborate and the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation (UK Branch) hosted the Unusual Suspects Festival. This four-day international event involved more than 35 different organisations coming together to host 28 unique events to explore the relationship and intrinsic connection between social innovation and collaboration. The essence of the festival was about bringing together a dynamic and diverse mix of unlikely connections to create real social change.

‘Building a Coalition of Collaborators in 2015’ draws on the different conversations and sessions that were held in September. Six themes that stood out across the entire festival and thoughts for moving forward in 2015 have been highlighted in the report. The report builds on the insights, ideas, and energy of those who were able to attend and participate in the festival, and outlines thoughts for the future to further develop the concept of the unusual suspects, to embed new learning, and continue to build a growing community of collaborators.

If you would like to find out more about the unusual suspects festival, watch this short film that was shown for the opening event of the festival and a highlights film about what took place during the festival.