Your Perspective Matters

Dear Ideas Enthusiast,

It is hard to believe we are now in 2019. We are well on our way to producing the Aspen Ideas Festival, and I thought it appropriate to share some thoughts about the programming we are creating. First, perhaps you have noticed that what has been Spotlight Health for the last few years is now renamed Aspen Ideas: Health (AIH), which we hope will clarify our mission a bit for those who might find the naming of these sections of the Festival a bit confusing. Starting June 20, AIH, a special part of this conference that uniquely raises matters of public health, policy, the latest in medicine, and important issues of global health will explore over three days a range of issues specific only to matters of health: ethics and values, dilemmas of mental health, fun explorations of cutting edge medicine, but also important topics such as the role of health and financial security, how chronic inflammation defines disease, and the newest approaches to combating illness and contagious disease both at home and abroad.

On June 23, we kick off the general Ideas Festival and promise an exciting lineup over the next week of thoughtful, provocative, and fascinating experts across such disparate topics as the search for meaning to how we address dilemmas posed by climate change. Given our attendees’ enthusiastic response last year to one session on happiness, we are plotting a deeper dive into the science of human emotions. We will explore how design professionals are applying their remarkable problem-solving skills to seemingly intractable social problems. All this alongside weeklong series of conversations on economics, global affairs (spanning insights to the rise of China and swings towards authoritarianism), and what contributes to American renewal, bringing heroes from towns and cities across America who can illustrate the remarkable work on the ground to build community. Our arts programming will introduce amazing storytellers from the worlds of film, visual arts, the stage, music, and more. There will be much to enjoy, learn, and discuss.

I am writing in part, though, to share an especially important focus of ours for 2019. We have always valued diversity of opinion and partisan balance on our stages, but many of you have urged us to be even more inclusive of the broad spectrum of perspectives that make up our public conversation today! — especially in the last year or so when the political rhetoric on both sides of the aisle has been so divisive and painful. We hear you! We will address this desire for a broader range of perspectives this coming summer in two ways. First, we’ve decided to dedicate one of our topical tracks to exploring how different conservative viewpoints are shaping our politics in DC and across the US, what values both mainstream and not-so-mainstream conservatives hold dear, and how various policies and approaches to governance will address some of the most serious dilemmas we face in our society. Second, we will work to assure that sessions across the range of themes we produce will represent the kinds of diversity — political, economic, gender, ethnic, and so forth — that will give us the opportunity to both explain important debates and deepen our appreciation for the vast array of views and opinions that populate the national conversation.

These are times when good arguments, formidable yet civil debate, and vigorous civic discourse are increasingly vital for democracy. We are bent on attracting the kinds of thinkers — speakers and moderators both — who will deepen our understanding of the critical issues of our time and explain the complexities well.

We sincerely hope you will join us in 2019. If there are experts, artists, performers, or leaders in any field that you might want us to bring to Aspen, please let us know. We have a nomination opportunity online. We will do our best to consider each one.

In the meantime, all our best for an exciting and productive New Year! Warmest regards from the beautifully snowy (and currently freezing) mountains of Colorado,