It was a day-long event never before seen on this side of the Atlantic; and definitely a first for Sarasota—if not our hemisphere. So naturally we arrived at last year’s American debut of “PINC” bristling with excitement and high expectations, even though most of us had absolutely no clue what to expect.
At day’s end, however, we knew we had been party to—and indeed participants in—an international event of the first order.
Although billed as a “conference,” PINC is truly a feast for the brain that tapped into every one of our senses. Even our taste buds were drawn into the act by being treated to three gourmet meals throughout the day—punctuated, of course, by surprisingly decadent coffee breaks. Not surprising, however, is that Wired Magazine calls PINC an annual, one-day “ideas-fest.”
PINC will take place at the Sarasota Opera House this year.
“PINC,” an anagram for People, Ideas, Nature, and Creativity, will celebrate its second year in the U.S. by moving to larger quarters in downtown Sarasota. This year the event will take place on Thursday, December 10th—from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.—at the Sarasota Opera House. Be advised that the brilliantly produced event is exceedingly well-staged, fast paced; and passes in a flash.
PINC is an inspired assemblage of 16, twenty-minute presentations on topics that run the gamut of the human experience. Passionately delivered by a collection of national and international speakers, PINC may very well change how you view the world and your role in it. The day also includes an assortment of engaging intermezzos that range from musical acts to acrobatic performances—not unlike refreshing sorbets in between heartier meal courses.
Rather than gush about the accomplished lineup of speakers we saw and heard at last year’s PINC, here is a sampling of the sixteen fascinating personalities whose presentations you will bear witness to at this year’s event:
Nicholas Bonner— a British-born travel entrepreneur, film-maker and art collector, Bonner is one of the few filmmakers allowed inside North Korea to create film.
Emar Vegt—A sound engineer at BMW, Vegt created the solid sound of the car’s doors, which has been shown to have a remarkable influence on peoples’ decisions to buy; and thus has become an important facet of the BMW luxury brand.
Mark Abrahams—A scientist and founder of the Ig-Nobel Prize, a ceremony held annually at Harvard University, in which prizes are awarded for rather unconventional achievements in science that tend to cause people to laugh before spurring them on to deeper thought.
What could these individuals, along with 15 other innovators in their respective fields, possibly have to say to a Sarasota audience?
That’s hard to predict in advance of December 10th, but this much we do know: PINC has been captivating audiences abroad for over 16 years. Moreover, how it found its way in a straight line from the Netherlands to Southwest Florida could be a PINC presentation unto itself.
It seems entirely fitting that this perennially popular European event has chosen Sarasota as its U.S. home; and demonstrates just how much our region is viewed from afar as one of America’s most vibrant cradles of culture and creativity. Indeed, Southwest Florida’s spectacular quality of life is rooted in the same four elements that have made PINC such a marvelous feast for the senses: People. Ideas. Nature. Creativity.
PINC is a one-day only event. The day is December 10th, from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. To learn more and buy tickets, visit pincsarasota.com; or call (941) 548-9889.